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| Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and You: A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way |
With whooping cough cases being reported in Georgia's communities, it is time to remind Georgians about the symptoms of whooping cough and the importance of vaccination.
Whooping coughs symptoms are often like those of the common cold. Adults or children may have whooping cough and not know it: it starts with a runny nose, sneezing, even a mild fever, but after a couple weeks, a severe dry cough develops and lasts for a prolonged period of time. For older children, adolescents and adults the health impact can be limited, with symptoms clearing up without long-term effects. Unfortunately, infants who aren't old enough to be adequately vaccinated can have serious complications.
At-Risk Populations
At-risk populations include:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that infants and children with whooping cough experience coughing spells so violent that they make a "whooping" sound when they inhale. Whooping cough is most severe for babies; more than half of infants less than one year of age who get the disease must be hospitalized. About one in 20 infants develop pneumonia and about one in 100 has convulsions. In rare cases, whooping cough can be deadly, especially in infants.
How Do I Protect Myself and My Family
- Get vaccinated.
- All infants and children should receive age-appropriate doses of DTaP
- A booster dose of TDaP is routinely recommended for adolescents at 11-12 years of age when other vaccines are given and for older adolescents and adults even if it has been less than 10 years since their last Tetanus booster.
- It is very important for females planning pregnancy, new mothers, and family members and caregivers of infants to be vaccinated with TDaP.
- Wash your hands frequently during the day using warm, soapy water or alcohol-based sanitizers
- Cover your mouth with a tissue or your sleeve when you sneeze or cough
- Avoid contact with high-risk populations if symptoms appear
In the case of whooping cough, it is better to be safe. Contact your physician or your local health department for information about vaccination. TDaP can be given to ages 10-64 and is available at every health department in Georgia FREE of charge regardless of insurance coverage.
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