Question 1

not sure if i was vaccinated against pertussis as a child or not. do i still just need to get the tdap once in my life as an adult?

Accepted Answer

Need Tdap: Yes you do need to get at least one Tdap.  If you become pregnant another Tdap is recommended per pregnancy.

Question 2

do you only need one pertussis vaccine for the course of your life?

Accepted Answer

Every 10 years: Current acip and cdc recommendation is every 10 years after the last booster at 4-6 year-old. However, if you are pregnant, then, it will be with every pregnancy no matter what the interval between each pregnancy is.

Question 3

what is pertussis?

Accepted Answer

Whooping Cough: Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it's marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop." 

before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease. Now whooping cough primarily affects children too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations.

Question 4

how does one get pertussis ?

Accepted Answer

Whooping cough:  is highly contagious and is spread among people by direct contact with fluids from the nose or mouth of infected people. People contaminate their hands with respiratory secretions from an infected person and then touch their own mouth or nose.  I highly recommend getting vaccinated every ten years with TdaP (Adacel)  -which is the Adult version of the childhood vaccine.

Question 5

where did pertussis come from

Accepted Answer

Whooping cough: Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a bacteria called  bordetella pertussis. It causes heavy, uncontrollable coughing that sound like barking.  It is on the rise, therefore immunization against it is now recommended. Most of us have been immunized against it during our early years of life through the tdap tetanus vaccine and now booster is recommended for unimmunized.

Question 6

what are the symptoms pertussis?

Accepted Answer

Cough: It usually starts with a runny nose and congestion and then it's becomes a long, persistent, annoying cough for adults.  In kids or infants it will often come with coughing fits that result in a whoop of inspiration after the coughing fit or sometimes after cough vomiting.  Hence the name whooping cough.

Question 7

how do i know if i have pertussis?

Accepted Answer

Suspicion/duration: Since most adults have not bothered to get a pertussis booster, they represent a target of opportunity.Pertussis germs can ride into town in an international traveler or someone from the west coast & spread it to you (or your susceptible kids).In adults, it often seems to be a mild cold until you get past the initial phase, then the persistent "hundred days cough" sets in. Dx from test is possible.

Question 8

can you get the pertussis injection?

Accepted Answer

Confusing question: Pertussis vaccine is available at any age beyond 2 months. Adults who will be in the proximity of vulnerable newborns are encouraged to receive the tdap, which contains this in an adult form.

Question 9

what system is affected by pertussis?

Accepted Answer

Respiratory: pertussis. I'd whooping cough. Is basically a respirstory tract system illness with prolonged coughing and sometimes other respiratory issues

Question 10

can i die from pertussis if i ignore it?

Accepted Answer

Not likely: Pertussis can cause death in children, especially if the child is malnourished, has other respiratory illness or other intercurrent illness.  An adult is not likely to die from it.

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Doctor answers about:

Pertussis life cycle

A member asked:

Not sure if i was vaccinated against pertussis as a child or not. do i still just need to get the tdap once in my life as an adult?

A member asked:

Do you only need one pertussis vaccine for the course of your life?

A member asked:

What is pertussis?

A member asked:

How does one get pertussis ?

A member asked:

Where did pertussis come from

A member asked:

What are the symptoms pertussis?

A member asked:

How do i know if i have pertussis?

A member asked:

Can you get the pertussis injection?

A member asked:

What system is affected by pertussis?

A member asked:

Can i die from pertussis if i ignore it?

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