Pertussis, otherwise known as Whooping Cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Despite a vaccine being available on the National Immunisation Program, the number of reported cases remains high in NSW. Those that are unvaccinated are at highest risk of complications. That means newborns as well. Know how you can best protect your baby from contracting whooping cough.
What is Whooping Cough?
Whooping Cough is an extremely contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
How Whooping Cough is spread
It is spread through respiratory droplets which can be transmitted in the air through coughing or sneezing, or from close contact with an infected person.
How common is Whooping Cough?
Whooping Cough remains common in Australia despite the National Immunisation Program and was at its highest in four years in 2015.
Who is at risk of Whooping Cough?
Babies are at highest risk of contracting whooping cough until they receive their two vaccinations. Around one in 200 infants under six months old who get whooping cough will die from pneumonia or brain damage.
Symptoms of Whooping cough
It takes between 7 to 20 days after infection for symptoms to appear. It starts like a cold before the characteristic ‘whooping’ cough develops. This cough can last for several months and can affect sleep and cause significant weight loss.
Unvaccinated individuals are at further risk of severe complications including pneumonia and decreased oxygen to the brain.
Protecting Bubs from Whooping Cough
Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of whooping cough in children and is thus part of the routine childhood immunisation in Australia. The whooping cough vaccine is given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, with boosters at 18 months, 4 years and 10-15 years. This vaccine is free on the National Immunisation Program Schedule. Speak to your doctor about getting your child vaccinated.
During the first 2 months where your baby is unvaccinated, the best protection you can give to your bub is to get a vaccination yourself during pregnancy. A single booster dose of the whooping cough vaccine is recommended for all women in their third trimester. This is because the mum’s antibodies will be transferred to the newborn through the placenta. As vaccine-induced pertussis antibodies reduce over time, vaccination is recommended with each pregnancy to provide maximum protection.
You can further reduce your bub’s risk of getting whooping cough by making sure that any adults that would be in contact with your bub before they turn 6 months receive the whooping cough vaccine as well, at least 2 weeks before contact with your baby.
u may be interested in
Australian Government Department of health – The Australian Immunisation Handbook