DECATUR – Earlier this month, the Macon County Health Departmentreported an increase in pertussis, commonly known as whoopingcough. According to a recent news release, threelaboratory-confirmed cases and two probable cases were identifiedin early December, a trend that holds true in Illinois and otherstates.

As of the beginning of December, 813 cases of pertussis had beenreported in Illinois for 2010 – 165 more than were seen in all of2009. According to the release, California has reported 10 infantdeaths from pertussis this year.

Pertussis is especially dangerous to infants, who cannot bevaccinated. They experience more serious illness and are morelikely to require hospitalization or have serious complications,the release said.

The illness, which begins with a cough and symptoms similar tothose of a cold, can occur between five and 21 days after exposure.According to the health department, after initially appearing, thesymptoms worsen over a period of weeks and can cause coughingspasms and the characteristic “whoop” of breathing inafterwards.

“Some adolescents and adults may demonstrate a milder form ofthe illness, so mild they don’t even know they are sick,” therelease stated.

The health department’s communicable disease department isimplementing a variety of strategies designed to reduce the spreadof the disease. One initiative involves educating medical providersabout the importance of recognizing pertussis symptoms early andfollowing up with proper tests, treatments and reporting.

Advising those who have been in close contact with reportedpertussis cases and reminding those with symptoms to stay home andaway from those at risk of complications are among the otherelements of the department’s effort.

The health department also advises that parents and caregiversof infants and those who have never received a tetanus, diphtheriaand pertussis (Tdap) vaccination do so to help protect those athigh risk of complications and themselves.

The Macon County Health Department will provide the Tdap vaccineat no charge for adult caregivers and parents of WIC infantsthrough Dec. 29. the vaccine also is available at many area medicalproviders’ offices or at the health department from 1 to 3:30 p.m.Wednesdays for $53, according to the release.

For more information, call 423-6988 or visitmaconcountyhealth.org.