INFORMATION FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE WHOOPING COUGH DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING

What is whooping cough virus during pregnancy?

Whooping cough is a common name for pertussis, a respiratory disease caused by infection with a species of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis, which causes disease by attaching to small, hair-like extensions structures called cilia, which line upper airways. It is one of the most preventable dangerous infections that strike young children. Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was one of a handful of infectious diseases that killed many children, especially in crowded cities with a lot of immigrants. This changed dramatically with the advent of the pertussis vaccine that today is combined with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria (Tdap for adults, DTaP for young children). In poor countries, however, vaccination rates are low. Furthermore, in certain communities in wealthy countries, misunderstanding combined with misinformation spread by anti-vaccine activists has led to a lapse in vaccination rates, which potentially can be very dangerous.