The inner core of babies is “in focus” of doctors, because the largest number of cases of infection occur in the home. Caused by a bacterium and transmitted from person to person through droplets from the nose or mouth, this condition usually starts as a cold, then hampers breathing and finally generates various complications, even-if not addressed early and in the form effectively to cause death.

Whooping cough, also known as whooping cough is a disease whose name somehow refers to the past. However, it is increasingly present, as in many countries worldwide, including Argentina, is registering a remarkable increase in the number of cases.

This is due to various factors but mainly to the weaknesses of immunization systems-both in terms of scope and coverage, and lack of a clear strategy to contribute to prevention.

That’s why the international and local experts suggest that the best way to protect babies under six months (which constitute the main risk group) to vaccinate mothers during the postpartum period, but also parents and nucleus near the child. This will constitute the so-called “cocoon strategy”.

“Although most of the cases correspond to infants, whooping cough is a disease that can occur in adults. The only difference is that among the major symptoms are not as easy to notice and also the effects are not as severe.

However, the main drawback with pictures of adults lies in the possibility of infection. In fact, several international studies show that between 76 and 83 percent of the affected contract the disease through contact with infected one of their parents, “explained Pro-Health News Dr. Paul Bonvehi, CEMIC Infectology chief and member of the Commission Vaccines Infectious Diseases Society of Argentina (SADI).

“Another very important point to consider is the scheme because the booster acellular DTP vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, and that should be administered at the time of school entry, the first dose should be administered only at the two months, the second at four and the third at six months and then have two reinforcements:

one a year and a half and another early in the school. But as the years pass that immunity is lost, so which would not be bad also universally vaccinate adolescents or pre-teens, “added Dr. Bonvehi.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pertussis causes around 294 thousand deaths a year worldwide in children under five, and Latin America accounts for 10 percent of deaths from preventable diseases vaccines.

What is the disease treated?
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussiswhich is transmitted through droplets of fluid from both the nose and the mouth of an infected person.