HHS HealthBeat (October 11, 2010)

Whooping Cough

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Nicholas Garlow with HHS HealthBeat.

Whooping cough is a common and serious threat to young infants; even children and adults.

Tami Skoff is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

"Someone with whooping cough may have a cough that lasts for weeks or months.  They can cough violently and rapidly, over and over – gasping for air between bouts of coughing; this is what makes the "whooping" sound." (14 seconds)

In infants and children, it can be easily prevented with a vaccine, called DTaP.

"The vaccine is given to children in a series of five shots, starting when a child is two months old and ending with a booster shot before the child begins elementary school." (9 seconds)

For teens and adults, a booster shot of Tdap is recommended.

Several states have reported an increased number of whooping cough cases this year. 

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

I'm Nicholas Garlow.

Last revised: May 7, 2011