CdA infant hospitalized with pertussis

A 2-month-old baby in Coeur d’Alene has been hospitalized with a confirmed case of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough.

Six other members of the baby’s household are also suspected of contracting the contagious disease and are being treated with antibiotics, said Susan Cuff, spokeswoman for the Panhandle Health District.

One of the suspected whooping cough cases is a first-grader at Borah Elementary School in Coeur d’Alene. Parents of other first-graders at the school were alerted Tuesday that their children may have been exposed to the disease. Kootenai County physicians have also been alerted to watch for possible cases.

Last year, 16 cases of pertussis were reported in Idaho’s five northernmost counties. Seven cases at the same time is “a little higher than normal,” Cuff said.

Pertussis is known as whooping cough because of the gasping sound or “whoop” that often comes after long fits of coughing caused by the disease. The illness is spread by airborne droplets from coughs, sneezes and even talking, according to information from the Panhandle Health District.

Immunizations are recommended for all children 6 and younger. Most fully immunized schoolchildren are at low risk for the illness. In adults and older children, whooping cough is typically not dangerous, Cuff said. “For children under 1, it can be quite serious.”