Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
We have been seeing quite a few cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in our area recently. Although the best way to protect your child from this severe coughing illness is to make sure they are fully immunized on schedule with the DTaP vaccine, it is still possible for a vaccinated child to contract this disease. If your child develops a severe cough which causes him to lose his breath, especially associated with a deep inspiratory noise (the “whoop” noted in the audio file on this page), please call us promptly.
Here is a link to reliable information about whooping cough. As always, please contact us if you have any questions about your child’s health.
Also, please be aware that Touchpoint Pediatrics offers the Tdap vaccine to protect adolescents and adults against pertussis. We are even able to offer this vaccine to parents, grandparents, and caregivers of our patients. The best way to help protect newborn babies against pertussis, before they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves, is to make sure that all the adults and siblings around the newborn are vaccinated. If you are interested in receiving the Tdap vaccine for adults in your family, please contact our office.