Everyone seen the commercial where there is a lady holding her baby close to her and talking about whooping cough and how dangerous it is to an infant. “Whooping cough, pertussis, can cause pneumonia, which can slow or stop breathing, this disease is VERY dangerous to babies (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis/).” This year, according to CDC, “most states have reported more cases of pertussis infection (whooping cough) compared to 2011. As of August 2012, more than 23,000 cases have been reported across the U.S., including 13 deaths (http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis/).”
There are five vaccines, DTaP vaccine, that is offered for children before they enter public schools. This is very important to know for the ones who have children and plan to have children. This DTaP vaccine series protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. This vaccine is not just limited to children before school, it can be given to preteens, teens, pregnant women, and adults. We, UNCG students should be already vaccinated or had received a booster shot in order to attend college.
In this article, "Whooping Cough: A Stealthy Illness", it states that “neither the vaccine nor the actual illness confers lifelong immunity, every three to five years there is an epidemic in the United States (
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/whooping-cough-a-stealthy-illness/).” This article went on to say that this “whooping cough epidemic may be the largest reported in fifty years”.
To avoid the whooping cough your best bet is to get vaccinated. If you have children and are aware of someone having a cold or a cough, keep your children away from that person this disease is highly contagious and can be devastating. Spread the news about getting vaccinated to protect our children. This article states that doctors are working on a better vaccine.
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis/
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/whooping-cough-a-stealthy-illness/
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