Physicians Asked to Be on Alert for Whooping Cough
[Posted 10/06/05]

The Los Angeles Department of Health Services (LADHS) is asking physicians in Los Angeles County to heighten their clinical suspicion of pertussis (whooping cough) and order appropriate laboratory tests for patients of all ages with a persistent cough illness of two weeks or more. Physicians are also asked to suspect pertussis in infants experiencing a cough illness of any duration.

Los Angeles County is experiencing a significant increase in reported cases of pertussis. Other California regions have also noted increases in reported whooping cough cases, but none as significant as that in Los Angeles. From January 1 to August 31, 178 pertussis cases were reported to the Los Angeles County Immunization Program, which is nearly a threefold increase in the number of cases reported during each of the previous five years.

Suspected cases of pertussis in Los Angeles County should be reported immediately to the county’s Morbidity Central Reporting Unit at 888/397-3993. Physicians in other counties should also report suspected pertussis cases to their local health departments.

For more information, visit the LADHS Immunization Program website.

Contact: Los Angeles County Immunization Program, 213/351-7800.