title: Protecting infants from pertussis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With the increased rate of pertussis in children, several families have asked me about ways to protect their young infants from pertussis infection. What should I recommend to these families?
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pertussis is a preventable disease that is endemic worldwide. In adults pertussis causes a mild coldlike illness followed by a persistent cough. In young infants it can cause apnea, seizures, encephalopathy, bronchopneumonia, and death. Infants younger than 4 months of age account for 86% of all deaths due to pertussis. Cocooning, the vaccination of adults in close contact with infants, is recommended by numerous global and national agencies but is likely to prevent only 20% of cases of pertussis in infants. Vaccination during pregnancy is more effective but not yet approved in Canada. Vaccination at birth has not been shown to be consistently effective and therefore is not recommended at this time.
authors: BC Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Room K4-226, Ambulatory Care Bldg, 4480 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4. rgoldman@cw.bc.ca.
authors: Meghan
authors: M
authors: Gilley
authors: Ran D
authors: RD
authors: Goldman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D032521:Immunity, Herd; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines