Pertussis

Alternative names:

whooping cough

Prevention:

DtaP vaccine or pertussis immunization (vaccine) starting in infancy protects children against this disease. During epidemics, health care providers or others at risk may be advised to receive a booster dose of the vaccine. During epidemics, unimmunized children under the age of seven should be excused from school and public gatherings for 14 days after the last reported exposure and isolated from anyone known or suspected to be infected. Cases of the disease are reported to public health officials by health care providers so that health warning announcements and other preventative measures can be taken. Pertussis is now recognized more often in adolescents and adults. Pertussis immunization is not 100 percent effective and slowly becomes less effective over the years. Individuals who have been immunized in the past may still develop infection but it is usually atypical or very mild. Therefore, during epidemics, adolescents in school, health care workers or other adults with high exposure risk should consider a booster immunization.