Pertussis: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Patients
Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough, is an illness with a name that captures its characteristic symptom—the cough. It's a sound that can be genuinely frightening, sometimes resembling a person gasping for air, and it just doesn’t seem to let up. The relentless coughing fits can cause severe respiratory distress and, in some cases, lead to failure. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Despite the availability of vaccines, we are seeing a rise in cases, with current rates surpassing pre-pandemic levels and cases now four times higher than they were at this time last year. So, who is most at risk? Infants under one year of age, as well as individuals with immunocompromising conditions or asthma, are particularly vulnerable. Babies, especially, are not…
