Why is whooping cough so dangerous?

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious disease that is particularly dangerous for young children and babies for several reasons.

Young children, especially babies, do not have a fully developed immune system. This makes them less able to fight infections. Whooping cough causes severe and persistent coughing fits that can lead to breathing problems. In young children, these coughing fits can prevent them from getting enough oxygen, which can lead to hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) and other complications.

Young children are at higher risk for serious complications such as pneumonia, brain damage from lack of oxygen, and even death. These complications are more difficult to treat in babies and young children because of their fragility.

Although a vaccine is available against whooping cough, babies usually do not receive their first series of vaccinations until they are several months old. This means that very young babies are often not yet fully protected against the disease.

Whooping cough is highly contagious and can spread quickly in communities, especially in areas with low vaccination rates. This increases the risk of young children contracting the disease.

Because of these factors, it is essential to maintain high vaccination rates and to be extra careful with young children around individuals showing symptoms of whooping cough. Protecting young children from whooping cough can save lives and prevent serious health problems.

Source: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMp1209051

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-07-15 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024