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January
Don't be caught off guard by symptoms of pertussis.
Pertussis is the only vaccine-preventable childhood illness that has continued to rise over the last 20 years. It is important to suspect pertussis when any of the classic signs appear:
- Signature "whoop" is heard as the child or infant gasps for air
- Cough usually produces a thick, productive mucus
- Vomiting (in some cases)
- Lips and nails turn blue due to lack of oxygen
- Exhaustion from constant coughing
February
Be on guard for mild pertussis disease in older siblings, adolescents and adults.
Those with mild pertussis can transmit the illness to un-immunized and partially immunized infants and young children who are more susceptible to severe illness and complications.
- The signature "whoop" so commonly associated with pertussis in children is not always present in older children and adults.
- Keep infants and young children away from older children and adults with a chronic cough, as pertussis is usually transmitted when a person talks, sneezes or coughs.
- Most important, make sure to vaccinate your child against pertussis and ask your health care provider about boosters for adolescents and adults.
March
Vaccinate on time, stay on schedule.
An increasing majority of pertussis cases are appearing in younger and younger infants and children.
- Many more parents are sending their children to day care centers and preschools at a younger age. Many of these centers will not require immunizations and your child may consequently be exposed to infected or unimmunized children.
- Immunity is only conferred when following the CDC's recommended childhood vaccine schedule.
- Post your child's immunization record on your refrigerator as a reminder.
- If you do miss an immunization appointment, remember to reschedule as soon as possible.
April
Make every office visit count.
Most children don't receive their first DTaP dose until their second month. By then, your child will need to receive other vaccinations. If possible, schedule all recommended vaccinations at this time:
- If your child is scheduled to receive immunizations for haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), polio, hepatitis B, or pneumococcal disease: ask your health care provider if they are also due for a DTaP vaccination.
May
Keep track of your child's DTaP immunizations.
Most children will receive a number of immunizations before age 2 to prevent more than a dozen childhood diseases.
- For the best possible protection against pertussis, a child should receive all 5 doses of the DTaP vaccine, which are administered at 2,4,6 and 15-18 months of age and 4-6 years of age.
- It is important to complete the fifth dose of the pertussis immunization series as it confers a higher level of pertussis immunity at an age when children begin attending school and may come into contact with other unvaccinated children.
June
Help make your child's pertussis immunization less painful.
Parents often feel uncomfortable when they see the discomfort their children experience from immunizations. The following suggestions can help both parents and child make your next immunization visit more comfortable:
- Hold and talk to your child during the immunization.
- Use your child's favorite toy as a distraction.
- Apply a cold cloth if the immunization site is red, apply heat if it is only sore.
- Stay calm for your child; panic will make them more uncomfortable.
- Breastfeed your infant or give a bottle during and after the immunization to decrease discomfort.
July
Always consult your health care provider as soon as you suspect whooping cough.
Don't wait to suspect pertussis until you hear the signature "whoop" that is associated with the disease. As pertussis may begin mild, the sooner you visit your health care provider, the sooner they may be able to treat the disease.
- Whooping cough usually starts with cold- or flu-like symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. These symptoms can last up to 2 weeks and are followed by increasingly severe coughing spells. Fever, if present, is usually mild.
August
Speak up about whooping cough.
If your child has whooping cough, don't miss the opportunity to discuss it with friends and family to make sure that we protect our children from this preventable disease. If you want to share your story with Pertussis.com, please click here.
September
Stay informed about recent whopping cough outbreaks in your area. Your child's health depends on it.
Pertussis outbreaks occur all the time, very often receiving community-wide media attention.
- Pertussis is one of the most contagious childhood diseases; with 80% secondary attack rates among susceptible persons.
- Pertussis tends to peak in 3-5 year cycles.
- Unvaccinated children are at least 6 times as likely as vaccinated children to get whooping cough during an outbreak.
- Continue to check Pertussis.com and other reputable Web sites such as the CDC's Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization (www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/Parents-Guide/default.htm) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) for updates on childhood immunization recommendations and outbreaks in your area.
October
Prepare for the fall/winter season.
Like many illnesses, pertussis seems to skyrocket in the fall and winter months. It is important to be aware of the possibility that pertussis outbreaks can be compounded during cold and flu season. Do everything you can to ensure that your family stays healthy: get children vaccinated on time and encourage a healthy diet, including lots of fruits vegetables and lean protein. To stay hydrated and reduce sugar intake, toddlers and older children should drink water rather than large amounts of juice.
November
In addition to your child, be aware of your own health.
- The childhood whooping cough vaccine wears off, so ask your health care provider about the whooping cough booster vaccine.
- Whooping cough is carried from one person to another by a bacteria that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of the infected person.
- If your child is properly vaccinated, know that he/she has the best level of protection available.
- The disease is most contagious during the first 2 or 3 weeks of infection, often before severe coughing spells even begin.
- As an adult, you may be harboring the disease and be unaware as many early symptoms may mirror the common cold. Pertussis rates have increased by 400% in adults since 1990.
- Be aware of pertussis to better protect your child.
December
Advocate vaccination in your community.
Herd immunity is defined as 'the resistance of a group of people to a given disease for which a large proportion of their community is immune. This decreases the likelihood that a patient with that disease would come into contact with a susceptible individual.' For this reason, the more children who are immunized decreases the incidence of disease in both vaccinated and unvaccinated children.
- Encourage friends who are also parents to learn more about pertussis and the importance of immunizations.
- Scientific data has clearly shown that when a majority of the population is vaccinated against a disease, fewer unvaccinated individuals will become ill as a result of fewer people transmitting the disease.
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