Immunization Action Coalition

Courtesy of World Health Organization

• child has pertussis
• difficult for him to stop coughing and to get air
• coughing spasms with a "whooping" sound that follows the
cough are typical
• sound means child is trying to catch his breath before the next
round of coughing

Pertussis
• serious disease especially for babies
• most babies who get pertussis have to be hospitalized and some
even die

Pertussis germ
• lives in the mouth, nose, and throat
• spreads through coughing and sneezing
• spreads very easily from parent to child or child to child

Once infected
• takes 5-10 days to get sick

Symptoms
• adults usually do not get very sick
• children can have
     • fever
     • coughing
     • severe cough with a "whooping" sound
     • vomiting and exhaustion after severe coughing
     • difficulty breathing

Complications
• pneumonia
• seizures
• brain damage
• death

Children under 7 years of age need to be vaccinated against pertussis.

Immunization Action Coalition1573 Selby AvenueSt. Paul MN 55104
Web: http://www.immunize.org/
Tel: (651) 647-9009Fax: (651) 647-9131

This page was updated on July 5, 2000