Whooping Cough

Anyone who has worked on their family history with family in the U.S. at the turn of the last century is familiar with the disease, pertussis, or whooping cough, a highly contagious, sometimes deadly bacterial disease.

During the late 1800s and into the middle of the 20th century pertussis accounted for the deaths of thousands of Americans, mostly children. In the 1940s, the pertussis vaccine, combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DTP), was introduced and by 1976, the incidence of whooping cough in the U.S. had decreased by over 99%.

Sadly pertussis has been on the rise of late. In 2005, 25,616 cases were reported according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health agencies and the media have been sounding the call warning parents and other care givers to be aware of the renewed threat of this disease.

Symptoms for whooping cough are initially mild, and then develop into severe coughing fits, which produce the namesake high-pitched "whoop" sound in infected babies and children when they inhale air after coughing. Anyone displaying these symptoms should seek medical assistance immediately.

Whooping cough commonly affects infants and young children but can be prevented by immunization with pertussis vaccine. Pertussis vaccine is most commonly given in combination with the vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus.

Below are resources on pertussis from government, organizational and news media resources.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Whooping Cough - Pertussis (US CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/

Whooping Cough - Pertussis (KDHE)
http://www.kdheks.gov/pdf/hef/ab1060.pdf
(A printable pamphlet available from the Kansas Dept of Health and Environment)

Whooping Cough (Medline Plus)
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/whoopingcough.html

PERTUSSIS VACCINE

Kansas Immunization Program (KDHE)
http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/

"Adults Need Vaccines Too" (KDHE)
http://www.kdheks.gov/news/web_archives/2010/12272010.htm
(News release from the Kansas Dept of Health and Environment)

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Vaccine
http://www.medicinenet.com/pertussis/article.htm
(MedicineNet.com... commercial site)

NEWS SOURCES

"21,000 Had Whooping Cough Last Year, CDC Says" (Wichita Eagle)
http://www.kansas.com/2011/02/23/1732660/21000-had-whooping-cough-last.html

"Pertussis, Whooping Cough, Is Back" (WIBW News)
http://www.wibw.com/13newsat4/headlines/103682609.html

Whooping Cough (CNN news)
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/whooping-cough/DS00445.html

Breaking Down Whooping Cough (CNN news)
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/21/breaking-down-whooping-cough/

Article contact: Bill Sowers
(Check out recent additions to our collection)

Thriving in Tough Times

From the beginnings of territorial days Kansans have at times lived through tough times. Drought, debt, dust... most all of us have been knocked down at some time or another.

Fortunately during these tough times there have often been others ready to offer a hand up. Neighbors and strangers have reached out to one another as well as government, institutions, organizations and religious bodies. Kansans have proven themselves to be generous in their time and talents in assisting those in need.

Two years ago staff at the State Library of Kansas began at website called "Thriving in Tough Times." The site provides resources to assist Kansans in finding a new job, figuring out how to refinance a home mortgage, where to turn to for help with medical costs/treatment and many other issues pressing in during our current tough times. The site, recently revamped, can be found online at:

http://thrivingintoughtimes.wordpress.com/

Within Thriving in Tough Times you'll find help in these areas:

Employment & Training
(Agencies, organizations and others who can help you with finding employment, career planning, applying for unemployment benefits, disability and veterans' assistance, training and GED information, and other related resources)

Finances
(Agencies, organizations and others who can help you with utility bills, grocery bills, tax assistance, military benefits, family assistance, housing and other services)

Housing
(Agencies, organizations and others who can help you with housing needs, questions, financial assistance sources, utilities assistance, support group locations and other services.)

Health
(Agencies, organizations and others who can help you with medical needs, health insurance questions, financial assistance sources, support group locations and other service)

Families
(Agencies, organizations and others who can help you with family, questions, financial assistance sources, support group locations and other services for infants through seniors)

Get Help at your local library!
(Local libraries, agencies, organizations and others who can help you)

If you or your agency would like to add/ edit content and links on this site, send an email to the Janie Rutherford at the State Library, janier@kslib.info. You'll receive an invitation to join the site.

Article contact: Bill Sowers
(Check out recent additions to our collection)

Indoor Air Pollution

During the winter months we tend to close ourselves up in our houses, businesses and other buildings guarding against the cold. But within this closed environment we can become susceptible to particles, gases and other objects floating in the air.

The links below offer information on identifying, treating and preventing indoor air pollution. The links here are a sampling of resources from various state and federal agencies

GENERAL RESOURCES

Indoor Air Hazards
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hlsaf2/mf2788.pdf
(Kansas State University Research and Extension)

Indoor Air Hazards Fact Sheet
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hlsaf2/mf2787.pdf
(Kansas State University Research and Extension)

Indoor Air Hazards Every Homeowner Should Know About
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/indoorair-hazards/main.htm
(Federal Citizen Information Center)

The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/450.html
(Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Indoor Air Quality
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/
(U.S. EPA website)

CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon Monoxide Alert
http://www.kdheks.gov/beh/carbon_monoxide.htm
(Information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment)

Carbon Monoxide
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html
(An introduction from the U.S. EPA)

Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht.html
(U.S. EPA)

DUST MITES

Dust Mites
http://www.epa.gov/asthma/dustmites.html
(U.S. EPA)

Dust Mite Allergy
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/allergiestodustmites/id039203.pdf
(The Patient Education Institute)

FORMALDEHYDE

Formaldehyde
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html
(An introduction from the U.S. EPA)

Formaldehyde
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/formaldehyde.htm
(Information from the California Air Resources Board)

Toxic Substances Portal - Formaldehyde
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=219&tid=39
(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

MOLD, FUNGI

Mold Resources
http://www.kdheks.gov/radiation/mold.htm
(The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has created this mold web-page to assist citizens who want to learn more about mold")

"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home"
http://www.kdheks.gov/radiation/download/moldguide.pdf
(U.S. EPA web document)

Controlling Mold Growth In the Home
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hous2/mf2141.pdf
(Kansas State University Research and Extension)

RADON

Kansas Radon Program
http://www.kansasradonprogram.org/
(Kansas State University Engineering Extension)

Radon Publications and Resource
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/index.html
(U.S. EPA Publications and Resources)

Kansas Vapor Intrusion Guidance
http://www.kdheks.gov/ber/download/Ks_VI_Guidance.pdf
(Kansas Department of Health and Environment)

Toxic Substances Portal - Radon
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=71
(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html
(An introduction from the U.S. EPA)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Your Home
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/voc/vocfactsheet.pdf
(Minnesota Department of Health)

Article contact: Bill Sowers
(Check out recent additions to our collection)