Health
Pertussis guidelines updated
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 2, 2006
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised its guidelines for treating pertussis. The disease, despite an effective childhood vaccination, has continued to infect large numbers of people, mostly teens and young adults. There were 25,827 cases reported in 2004, the highest number since 1959, according to the agency.
The updated guidelines, published in the Dec. 9, 2005, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, broaden the spectrum of antimicrobials to use when treating the disease.
The guidelines include dosing information for azithromycin and clarithromycin as well as the more standard erythromycin.
The CDC recommends continuing to vaccinate children ages 6 weeks to 6 years with diphtheria, tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine, DTaP.
In addition, the agency's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted last year to recommend a single dose of tetanus toxoid and reduced diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine, Tdap, for adolescents and adults younger than 65.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/01/02/hlbf0102.htm.
