Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is most common in young children, with the highest rate of infection occurring in infants between the ages of 6 months and 1 year. In the United States, whooping cough is one of the leading causes of death among infants and is responsible for thousands of hospitalizations each year.
The most severe cases of whooping cough are seen in infants younger than 6 months of age, who are too young to have received the full course of the recommended DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) vaccine. As children get older, their risk of becoming infected with whooping cough begins to decrease. However, infection in older children and adults is still possible, and it is recommended that children, adolescents, and adults receive the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine to protect against whooping cough.
Adults, especially those in close contact with young children, should receive a Tdap booster every 10 years to ensure their protection against whooping cough. People who have never received the Tdap vaccine should speak with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated.
Whooping cough is a serious and often overlooked disease that can cause severe illness in infants and young children, and even death. It is important for children and adults to receive the recommended DTaP and Tdap vaccines to protect against this potentially deadly disease.