Whooping cough, or pertussis, has experienced a resurgence this year with more than 3,400 cases reported between January 1 and June 10, 2014, per California Department of Public Health. Los Angeles county accounts for around 350 of the new cases so far this year. Two-thirds of pertussis hospitalizations have been from children four months or younger. Two infant deaths have been reported.
Pertussis is a highly infectious bacterial disease that can be spread to others by coughing. Infants may not have typical pertussis symptoms and may have no obvious coughing. Parents describe episodes in which their infant’s faces shifted to a red or purple color.
Takeaway
all pregnant women should get vaccinated.
We also urge parents to vaccinate infants as soon as possible.