PETALING JAYA: With some 329 cases of whooping cough and 23 deaths reported until Aug 19 this year, experts say vaccination and good hygiene are important to keep the disease under control.
Babies under one-year-old and young children are said to be highly susceptible to pertussis, also known as whooping cough. However, the condition can affect adults, too.
The tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP) vaccine is given to mothers in the second and third trimester of pregnancy to protect newborn before their first active vaccinations at two months old.
Children younger at the age of two months, four months, six months, 15-18 months and when they are between four and six are given another vaccine – DTap – to develop immunity against diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis.
General paediatrician Dr Ruzanna Saihani said the best way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination.
“Another way to mitigate pertussis is by practising good hygiene such as covering one’s (mouth) when coughing or sneezing and proper hand washing.”
Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Milton Lum said the TDAP vaccine is recommended for every pregnancy.
“While TDAP vaccination is not mandatory, it is administered to all pregnant women unless they have contraindications, which is very rare, or they have objections,” he said.
In countries like the United Kingdom and United States, TDAP vaccination is recommended for all pregnant women between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and 13-26 weeks in Switzerland.
He said the level of maternal antibodies will be high in the second and third trimesters.
“To ensure the maximum amount of maternal antibodies are transferred to the foetus, the level in the maternal blood should be highest during the second and third trimesters,” said the past president of the Federation of Private Medical Associations Malaysia and the Malaysian Medical Association.
He said maternal antibodies against pertussis would be at their peak at about four weeks after vaccination.
“As the level of pertussis antibodies decreases with time, TDAP is recommended during every pregnancy,” he added.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s public health expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said doctors usually treat whooping cough with antibiotics.
While this kills the bacteria, she said it does not combat the toxin.
“Even with an effective antibiotic, a patient will suffer for six to 10 weeks before recovery. Most kids now get vaccinated for whooping cough with DTap.”
There are booster shots for adolescents and elderly people.
“This means that vaccinated people can still become carriers, spreading it to unvaccinated people – like very young babies – but also to people who have been vaccinated,” she added.
She said it was also possible for those having pertussis to be asymptomatic carriers.
Also Read: 23 deaths due to whooping cough
”The first symptoms of pertussis may be similar to those of a common cold, including nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, red and watery eyes, mild fever and a dry cough.
“After about one to two weeks, the dry cough becomes a wet cough that brings up thick mucus and babies may experience difficulty breathing.
“Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics, but treatment may only cure the symptoms,” she said.
The Health Ministry is looking into seeking an allocation from the Finance Ministry to provide free TDAP jabs for pregnant women.
A meeting was held at the Health Ministry yesterday to discuss the proposal.
