Photo courtesy of johncochrane.ca
Doctors in the Kelsey Trail Health Region are cautioning people after an increase in the number of Cumberland House residents contracting the ailment formally known as pertussis.
Early symptoms of pertussis or whooping cough include sneezing, runny nose, fever, and coughing, leading to severe coughing with a “whooping” sound.
Anyone with a cough lasting more than two weeks or exhibiting other symptoms suggestive of the illness are advised to see a healthcare provider.
“If you have a long-term cough, do not get close to high-risk people like pregnant women and check with a healthcare provider to see if you need antibiotics,” says Dr. Mohammed Khan, a medical health officer with the Kelsey Trail Health Region. “Young children who are not fully immunized and pregnant women are also at high risk for pertussis.”
The Kelsey Trail Health Region is asking any women in Cumberland House who have been pregnant for 26 weeks or longer to inquire about vaccinations for the illness.
The pertussis vaccine for adults is combined with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines into what is called a Tdap.