There’s a lot of pertussis cases around and babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk.
What do you mean by Pertussis and what are its symptoms?
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough is a highly communicable bacterial illness. It is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The disease begins like a cold, before the characteristic “whooping” cough develops. This cough may persist for several months that may lead to sleep disturbance and significant weight loss. Although it initially resembles that of an ordinary cold, whooping cough may eventually turn more serious, particularly in infants.
Once left untreated, severe complications (which occur almost exclusively in unvaccinated people) might develop such as: pneumonia (lung infection) and hypoxic encephalopathy (lack of oxygen to the brain).
The severity of pertussis is greatest among infants who are too young to be protected by a complete vaccine series.
How is it treated?
The best way to prevent pertussis is through vaccinations. It is recommended as part of a routine childhood immunization, called DTaP. These are combination vaccines that protect against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. This vaccine is free on the National Immunization Program Schedule. Doses of vaccine are given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, with booster doses at four years and 10-15 years.
More so, if not already vaccinated, pregnant women should receive the booster vaccine late in the second trimester or during the third trimester, during each pregnancy.
What happens when an adult gets whooping cough?
In adults, whooping cough usually starts like a common cold but then the coughing gets worse and can last for weeks or even months. Whooping cough spells can leave adults gasping for breath and unable to sleep, and can cause cracked ribs and hospitalization.
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