Pertussis commonly called whooping cough,is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. This infects the respiratory system and is very contagious. The symptoms are similar to a cold at the start, but in a week or two, this escalates to severe coughing. The coughing is violent, prolonged, and may cause a whooping sound when inhaling(hence the name).It is rare, but possible to have a fever at this stage although infants temperatures are more likely to rise.
Because pertussis is a bacterial disease, it responds well to antibiotics.
Tdap has been developed as a booster vaccine for adults. This protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Tdap is recommended for adults and pregnant women, and is often given to families and caregivers of newborns. Every ten years or so you should get a tetanus shot. Its recommended to ask your doctor if you can take Tdap,that way you can get a vaccine for all three illnesses at once. Three vaccines are given for whooping cough, from 2 to 6 months of age. Neither getting vaccinated nor surviving the illness provides lifetime immunity.The whooping cough vaccine only works for about 5 to 10 years, so a booster is recommended.
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