Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, is a
bacterial infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis
bacterium. The illness typically targets a person’s respiratory
system. Whooping cough is a common illness in very young infants and
children that have not been vaccinated.
It is difficult to diagnose whooping cough during the
early stages of the illness because the infection shares many
symptoms with the common cold: a runny nose, fever, cough, and
sneezing. However, the mild cough progresses into full-blown coughing
after a week or two. The more serious coughing fits can last for over
a minute, making it difficult to breathe. After a coughing fit, the
sick person typically makes a “whooping” sound as he or she gasps
for air.
If your child starts to exhibit symptoms of whooping
cough, be sure to bring him or her to a pediatrician. The
pediatrician will then confirm the disease by taking a history of
symptoms or taking fluid samples for a laboratory test. If the
presence of whooping cough is confirmed, the pediatrician will
prescribe antibiotics.
Fortunately, the disease can be prevented by having your
child vaccinated with the DTaP vaccine. Public health officials
advise parents to make sure their children have received all five
doses of the DTaP vaccine before the child reaches six years of age.
The vaccine is readily available in all pediatric practices.
