Whooping cough a childhood disease? An idea to be shelved because this disease can be contracted several times in his life. And if vaccination protects children, adults, even vaccinated in their childhood, are no longer immune. Result: “More and more adults are having whooping cough” summarizes Dr. Serge Gilbert, general practitioner and teacher at the Necker-Enfants Malades hospital. Nothing very serious in itself. Except that the adult risks transmitting the disease to an infant not yet protected by vaccination. However, in toddlers, respiratory and neurological complications can be serious. And before 1 year, the disease leads to hospitalization in 80% of cases. “Whooping cough is the leading cause of death by bacterial infection in children under 2 months” insists Dr Nicole Guizo, head of the national reference center for whooping cough (Institut Pasteur). Something to think about … when you know that there are means of prevention.
Young parents: think about the reminder
For a long time, booster shots were no longer recommended for adults because of the risk of side effects. But the disease is transmitted more and more often from teenagers or adults to babies, the attitude of doctors has changed. Thus, thanks to the development of new well-tolerated “acellular” vaccines, a new vaccination booster has been introduced in preadolescents then in young parents, adults at risk and health personnel in contact with newborns. The pertussis vaccine, combined with diphtheria, tetanus and polio, provides adequate immunity with a booster every 10 years.
How whooping cough manifests
The disease, which is transmitted by air, and whose incubation lasts a week, is manifested by a persistent cough (more than 3 weeks) without fever, with fits. But in adults, its milder form is difficult to spot. “The diagnosis is not obvious. Only a serology carried out twice fifteen days apart can confirm it” recognizes Dr Gilbert. The treatment, which is based on antibiotics, applies to the patient and his relatives. It reduces contagiousness and slows down transmission.
To find out more about whooping cough with EurekaSanté, the general public medical site published by VIDAL.