Whooping cough cases soar in Wisconsin By Anna Krejci News-Chronicle The number of cases of whooping cough in Wisconsin has doubled as compared with numbers during recent years. The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services reported that there are more than 800 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, reported in the state so far this year. Daniel Hopfensperger, director of the Wisconsin Immunization Program, said high numbers of pertussis cases occur every three to four years. The number of whooping cough cases in Brown County has doubled as well. Geraldine Schrader, nurse manager at the Brown County Health Department, said in 2002 and 2003, there were seven cases in Brown County. As of July, a little more than half way through the year, seven cases have been confirmed. Five out of the seven cases of the whooping cough cases have been confirmed in July alone, Schrader said. The contagious disease is bacterial. Its first signs take the form of a cold, but a runny nose is eventually accompanied by a cough that worsens to the point of making it hard to breathe, eat or sleep. Individuals of any age can be affected. The state's health department reported Tuesday that the recent increase in cases is mostly among 10- to 15-year-olds, but younger children are in a position to suffer more from contracting the disease. "The resulting illness is more serious in infants and children," Schrader said. According to the state's health department, more than 50 percent of infants with the disease need hospitalization. Bacterial pneumonia is the most common condition accompanying an infant infected with whooping cough. Children between the ages of 2 months and 6 years can receive a DTaP vaccination that is highly effective. After the age of 7 the vaccine becomes less effective and is no longer recommended. The disease is spread by regular, indoor proximity to a person with whooping cough. It is not contagious after an infected person takes antibiotics and is isolated during that time for five days. Individuals living with or in close contact with someone recovering from whooping cough also are given antibiotics. Without antibiotics, the disease is most contagious before heavy coughing sets in. It can be contagious for three weeks after the onset of symptoms resembling a cold or three weeks after the heavy coughing spell. Symptoms are noticeable anywhere from seven to 20 days after being exposed to the disease. The state health department advised anyone suffering from a cough lasting seven days or longer to contact a physician. Schrader stressed the importance of staying isolated for the full five days while recovering from whooping cough and reporting the case. For teenagers, it can be very hard to stay at home without having any friends over, but not having friends over during an isolation period is important, Schrader said. The Brown County Health Department, 610 S. Broadway St. in Green Bay, administers whooping cough vaccinations and requests $3 donations per vaccination; however, free vaccinations are available. For more information call 448-6401.