By Sue Danielson, Health Services
Communicable Illnesses in the La Crosse Area
Flu season has arrived. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), influenza cases are rising in the U.S. and locally.
It is not too late to get a flu shot. Health Services still has a limited supply of vaccine available at a cost of $5 for students and $17 for employees. Influenza symptoms may include:
- fever or feeling feverish/chills
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle or body aches
- headaches
- fatigue (very tired)
- vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. CDC also recommends everyday preventive actions (like staying away from people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes and frequent handwashing) to help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) illnesses, such as flu.
Pertussis
Pertussis or Whooping Cough is also being seen locally. From October 2016-December 2016 La Crosse County saw 66 cases of Pertussis. Wisconsin has reported a total of 1,156 cases in 2016. Pertussis is a very contagious disease only found in humans. People with pertussis usually spread the disease to another person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space. Many babies who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers who might not even know they have the disease.
Infected people are most contagious up to about two weeks after the cough begins. Antibiotics may shorten the amount of time someone is contagious.
While pertussis vaccines are the most effective tool to prevent this disease, no vaccine is 100 percent effective. If pertussis is circulating in the community, there is a chance that a fully vaccinated person, of any age, can catch this very contagious disease. If you have been vaccinated but still get sick, the infection is usually not as bad.
Early symptoms usually start with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever. These early symptoms may last for 1–2 weeks. As the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include:
- paroxysms (fits) or many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop.” The whoop is usually seen mostly in children.
- throwing up during or after coughing fits.
- exhaustion after coughing fits.
The coughing fits may go on for up to 10 weeks or more. Vaccination for pertussis is available through your healthcare provider or local health department. For more information, contact health services at ext. 3806 or scdanielson@viterbo.edu.