Pertussis In Infants

It’s scary whenever a newborn is ill, but whooping cough can be scarier than most infections. This is because whooping cough can make it hard for babies to breathe, which may require hospitalization. 

Whooping cough is so dangerous for infants because they do not gain protection against it until they are two months old, which is when they can be vaccinated against it. Before that time, babies are at the highest risk of getting very sick if exposed to pertussis. 

Symptoms of Pertussis

If you’re pregnant or just gave birth, knowing the signs of pertussis is crucial for keeping your baby away from anyone ill or getting them to a doctor quickly if they show symptoms. 

Always be sure to see a doctor if you, your child, or anyone else in your family are:

• coughing violently
• struggling to breathe
• coughing over and over
• turning blue or purple
• not drinking enough fluids

However, it’s important to note that many babies with whooping cough don’t cough at all. Instead, their most prominent symptom is struggling to breathe, which may cause them to turn blue or purple. 

How Pertussis Spreads

Whooping cough can easily spread from one person to another, which is why it is important to be proactive against this infection.

Pertussis results from the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which attaches to the cilia (small, hair-like structures) that line the upper respiratory system. Once attached, the bacteria releases toxins that damage the cilia and cause the airways to swell, which can make it difficult for infants to breathe.

Even worse, the bacteria responsible for whooping cough easily spreads from person to person through the air. When someone sick with whooping cough sneezes or coughs, they can release small particles with the bacteria. If your baby breathes in these particles, they can then become sick.

Coughing and sneezing is not the only way that it spreads, though. Whooping cough can also spread when you’re close together or share breathing space, such as if you hold your baby on your chest. This is why babies most often catch pertussis from a family member.

As for how long you can be contagious with whooping cough, the answer is quite a while. People can start spreading the bacteria as soon as they display the first symptoms. Unfortunately, the first symptoms often resemble a cold. Because of this, some people may never know that they have whooping cough, making them more likely to spread it to others. However, just because the illness is mild in them does not mean that it will be mild in a baby.

Additionally, once the coughing begins, someone can continue to spread whooping cough for at least 2 weeks, maybe longer. One way to shorten the time you’re contagious is by taking antibiotics early in your illness, but this does not erase all contagiousness.

You and your baby’s best option is to prevent pertussis, and you can do this through the pertussis vaccine.

The Pertussis Vaccine

There are different types of vaccines that provide protection against pertussis.

Since infants cannot get the vaccine until they are two months old, it is recommended for women to receive a vaccination during the second trimenon (13. - 26) until the beginning of the third trimenon each time they are pregnant. The vaccine is very safe for both mom and baby. There is no increased risk of pregnancy complications if you get the vaccine.

If your baby still gets whooping cough, these antibodies help to make it a milder case. One study found that babies whose mothers received the vaccine during pregnancy were less likely to need hospital or ICU care, and the lengths of stay in these facilities, when necessary, were also shorter. 

In short, getting the pertussis vaccine during your pregnancy can give your baby the best possible chance of fighting this illness should they be exposed to it.

It’s Not “One and Done”

Because the amount of antibodies to whooping cough decreases in the body over time, it is recommended for women to get a vaccine each time they are pregnant; that way, they can offer each baby the greatest amount of protection. 

Protect Yourself, Protect Your Baby

Pregnant women wanting to keep their baby safe should look into the pertussis vaccine, which is recommended during pregnancy. By receiving it at this time, moms have time to build up pertussis antibodies in their body and pass them on to their baby, offering them extra protection against whooping cough until they can get vaccinated at 2 months.

 While the pertussis vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women, even if this is not your first pregnancy, other vaccines are also recommended for pregnant women, especially those who are planning to travel. To stay on top of your health and keep your baby healthy as well, book an appointment for a routine vaccination check at our Travel Clinic UZH and allow our team to help you keep you and your baby healthy.

References

Skoff TH, Deng L, Bozio CH, Hariri S. US Infant Pertussis Incidence Trends Before and After Implementation of the Maternal Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Vaccine. JAMA Pediatrics. 2023;177(4):395-395. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5689

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Boulet SL, Chamberlain AT, Biswas HH, Jamieson DJ. Trends in Infant Pertussis Hospitalizations in the United States, 2009-2017. JAMA. 2019;322(21):2134-2136. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.15577

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Abu-Raya B, Forsyth K, Halperin SA, et al. Vaccination in Pregnancy against Pertussis: A Consensus Statement on Behalf of the Global Pertussis Initiative. Vaccines (Basel). 2022;10(12):1990. Published 2022 Nov 23. doi:10.3390/vaccines10121990

Libster R, Edwards KM. How can we best prevent pertussis in infants?. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(1):85-87. doi:10.1093/cid/cir780

Gayatri Amirthalingam, Andrews N, Campbell H, et al. Effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination in England: an observational study. The Lancet. 2014;384(9953):1521-1528. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(14)60686-3