The Carroll County Health Department, along with the Indiana State Department of Health, urge parents to get themselves and their children immunized against pertussis (whooping cough).

So far in 2008, there have been 100 cases of pertussis in Indiana, compared to 53 at this time in 2007.

Pertussis is a contagious illness caused by bacteria. It occurs in all age groups, but is much more severe in infants and young children. Adults with milder, undiagnosed symptoms can transmit the disease to infants and children. Pertussis is usually spread by contact with secretions from an infected person's nose or throat.

"Immunization is the best way to prevent pertussis," says Dr. Jordan Dutter of the Carroll County Health Department. "We urge parents to be sure that they and their children are up to date on their pertussis containing vaccines. It is very important that older children and adults be upto date on their vaccinations because they can easily transmit pertussis to infants too young to be vaccinated."

Pertussis can sometimes occur in persons who have been immunized, but symptoms are normally milder than without immunization.

The first symptoms of pertussis are those of the common cold with a mild cough. After a week or two, the cough becomes worse. In children, the cough becomes paroxysmal (a series of five or ten coughs in a single breath), and may end with a whooping sound. Vomiting may occur at the end of the coughing spell.

A physician may decide to prescribe antibiotics to decrease the chance of spreading the disease. Antibiotics will not usually improve the cough unless given very early in illness.