Pertussis, Mumps, and Measles

Pertussis

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough is a serious respiratory illness. It is an infection that often mimics a common cold in the beginning, but can progress quickly, especially in young infants and children. Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. This is because patients often have violent, rapid coughing fits, leaving them to loudly inhale as they try to refill their lungs with air. View more information about Pertussis.

Pertussis is very contagious and spreads rapidly, usually before a patient's cough even develops. A vaccine is available against pertussis. Children receive the vaccine in their normal childhood series of Diptheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis (DTAP) shots, but are not fully protected until age five. An adolescent booster is due at age 11 to 12, before a student enters 7th grade. Adults often pass the pertussis infection on to their children, since their immunity has waned from their own childhood immunizations.

A one-time booster of the pertussis vaccine (given in Tdap-Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) is recommended for all adults who have contact with infants and children. This helps to protect the children who have not been able to be fully vaccinated. Parents can also help protect their children by getting them all their vaccines on time. Women are now recommended to get a Tdap booster in the third trimester of each pregnancy, to help pass immunity on to the baby. Please call 620-842-5132 if you are interested in this vaccine.

Mumps

Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite, followed by swollen salivary glands. This is what causes the the puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw. Mumps can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. This protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. CDC recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. Teens and adults also should be up to date on their MMR vaccination.

Before the U.S. mumps vaccination program started in 1967, mumps was a universal disease of childhood. Since the pre-vaccine era, there has been a more than 99% decrease in mumps cases in the United States. Mumps outbreaks can still occur in highly vaccinated U.S. communities, particularly in close-contact settings such as schools, colleges, and camps. However, high vaccination coverage helps to limit the size, duration, and spread of mumps outbreaks. As of May 9, 2017 there have been 142 cases of mumps in Kansas. Additional boosters are not recommended at this time, but please contact our office if you have questions about your vaccination history.

Measles

In the past couple of years there have been several outbreaks of Measles. Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It's followed by a rash that spreads over the body. Measles virus is highly contagious (even spreading up to two hours after a patient has been in an area) and spreads through the air through coughing and sneezing. It is so contagious that if one person has it, 90% of the people around him or her will also become infected if they are not protected. CDC recommends routine childhood immunization for the MMR vaccine starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. People who are born during or after 1957 who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine. Healthcare workers should have documented evidence of immunity against measles or two doses of the vaccine.