Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella Pertussis. It spreads through droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes. For adults, pertussis can feel like a bad cold with a lingering cough. But for babies, especially those under 1 year old, it can be much more serious. If a baby who is not fully vaccinated gets whooping cough, about 1 in 3 will need to be hospitalized. Complications can include: The good …
The Baby Blog: whooping cough
How You Can Protect Your Baby from Pertussis “Whooping Cough” Before and After Birth
By Chelsea Flores Reviewed by Elizabeth Salas, MPH Are you currently pregnant? Are you aware of the risk of pertussis to your baby? Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a serious problem throughout California. Public health officials confirm our state is currently experiencing a pertussis epidemic. In 2010, there were more pertussis cases in California than had been reported in over 60 years with approximately 9,000 cases including 10 infant deaths. In 2014 10,831 cases were reported. …
