Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis Fact Sheet - printable sheet
Pertussis is a respiratory illness that starts out very similar to the common cold (runny nose, sneezing, coughing) but progresses to include severe coughing. Infants and young children cough so forcefully, they are forced to inhale with a "whooping sound." The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated and to get infants and young children vaccinated on time. Adults and teens need a booster, especially if they are around infants and young children. Over the last several years, there has been a spike in pertussis cases, and infants and young children are most likely to be hospitalized with complications from pertussis. For more information on pertussis, visit the links listed below.