by dr.kotula on August 13, 2010
Known for the sound made by someone gasping for breath, whooping cough can cause serious illness and it’s on the rise in Nebraska. Nine cases were reported in July in Douglas County. Listen to the sound of whooping cough.
What is it?
The disease, pertussis, has the same appearance as a bad cough and cold in its early state. Pertussis is caused by exposure to a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis and is very contagious.
What are the symptoms?
The early symptoms, which follow exposure to the bacterium from 6 to 20 days are:
-
sinus congestion
- runny nose
- slight sore throat
- low grade or absent fever
This stage lasts 1 to 2 weeks.
Coughing becomes progressively worse during the second stage of the illness, which can last from 2 to 4 weeks. The “whooping” sound may be heard when the coughs come so close together that the person gasps for air. The symptoms lessen during the last stage, which can last from 2 to 4 weeks.
Who is at risk?
Adults, children and infants are all at risk to contract the disease – usually from inhaling the pertussis bacteria from an infected person coughing or sneezing near them. Infants and children are stricken the most severely by whooping cough with more than half of infants younger than 12 months being hospitalized. This illness can also progress into pneumonia.
How do I prevent it?
Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate. Current vaccines protect against whopping cough, tetanus and diphtheria.
The childhood vaccine is called DTaP and is administered in five shots. The first three shots are given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The fourth shot is given between 15 and 18 months of age, and a fifth shot is given when a child enters school, at 4–6 years of age.
The whooping cough booster vaccine for adolescents and adults is called Tdap. This year, all seventh grade students in Nebraska are required to receive the booster vaccination. Prior to 2005 the combined vaccine for whooping cough, tetanus and diphtheria was not available for adolescents and adults. If you received a tetanus booster prior to 2005, you may not be inoculated against pertussis. Check with your provider.
Getting vaccinated with Tdap is especially important for families with and caregivers of new infants.
More information:
Methodist Health System Resources:
by dr.kotula on July 5, 2010
High school athletics creates the perfect atmosphere for a truly cunning adversary: CA-MRSA. This opponent attacks from within – and loves close skin-to-skin contact.
What is this enemy?
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. This staph bacteria, found commonly on the skin or in the nose of up to 30 percent of Americans, can cause a tough-to-treat infection if it enters through a cut or minor scratch.
It doesn’t have to be a major injury.
According to the Journal of Hospital Infection MRSA bacteria can live:
- Up to 7 months on dust.
- Up to 8 weeks on a mop head.
- Up to 9 weeks on a cotton towel.
- Up to 203 days (over 6 months) on a blanket.
- INDEFINITELY on the skin of otherwise healthy individuals, with no symptoms.
Why does it target athletes?
CA-MRSA commonly develops where the “5 Cs” are found:
- Crowding – infections are more likely in groups that spend time in close quarters, common in locker rooms.
- Skin-to-skin contact, found in contact sports.
- Compromised skin – cuts or scrapes on the skin, which can be caused by contact sports or training.
- Contaminated items and surfaces, which can be found in locker rooms or training areas.
- Lack of cleanliness, if contaminated surfaces or open cuts are not cleaned.
It isn’t just a pimple.
I recently treated a gifted local female volleyball athlete. She suffered from what she and her mother thought were spider bites in several areas of her torso. These were actually CA-MRSA pustules or boils, which appear as red, swollen or painful bumps.
CA-MRSA pustules are often found at the site of a cut or scrape or frequently areas of the body that are covered by hair:
- Back of the neck
- Groin
- Buttocks
- Armpits
- Beard area in men
Nothing to play games with.
We use antibiotics to combat many bacterial infections. For the most part, they work wonderfully. However, sometimes a bacteria is able to develop its own resistance to the antibiotic, and drugs normally used to cure an infection are useless against it. CA-MRSA is such a resistant bacteria. Common antibiotics – penicillin, amoxicillin - will not destroy the infection.
While most infections of CA-MRSA (MEER-sah) can be treated without antibiotics, some stubborn cases have caused pneumonia, hospitalization and even death. There are other, less commonly used antibiotics which can be used successfully.
Don’t squeeze.
If you have pus-filled boils, see your health care provider to be tested for MRSA or other staph infection and to have them drained. Squeezing them yourself can spread the bacteria to other parts of your body or into your bloodstream.
Volleyball Athlete – 1 / MRSA – 0
My patient was successfully cured within a few weeks of antibiotic treatment. However, she had been suffering with the painful boils for months before diagnosis.
Play defense and take care of yourself and your skin.
Follow these suggestions to limit your risk of acquiring this infection:
Wash your hands before and after playing sports and activities such as using shared weight-training equipment.- Alcohol-based hand rubs with at least 60% alcohol can be used if soap and water are unavailable.
- Do not share bar soap and towels.
- Wash your uniform and clothing after each use.
- Wear protective clothing or gear designed to prevent skin abrasions or cuts.
- Use a barrier (such as clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared equipment like weight-training, sauna and steam-room benches.
Use antibiotics as directed and recommended.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria grow from misuse of antibiotics. Remember:
- Antibiotics are useful only for bacterial infections. They cannot cure a virus. Do not ask for or take them unless prescribed.
- Finish all of your prescription. Weakened bacteria, partially treated by an antibiotic are able to mutate and develop resistance. Next time the infection will be harder to combat.
More information for athletes, parents and coaches.
