whooping cough
Whooping cough is a serious disease, especially in children under four years of age, since it may give rise to such complications as pneumonia, asphyxia, convulsions, and brain damage. For these reasons, it is recommended that all infants be actively immunized beginning at as early an age as possible (one to two months). The whole-cell pertussis vaccine available in the United States since the 1940s (see vaccination) became the subject of controversy when it was learned that a toxin contained in it occasionally caused serious side effects. A newer, acellular vaccine, which uses only the parts of the bacterium that stimulate immunity and is less likely to cause side effects, was approved for use in 1996. Five doses are administered over 4 to 6 years, with the first three doses given by 6 months of age. The acellular vaccine, however, is less persistent than its predecessor. It is now believed that adults whose childhood vaccinations are no longer completely effective and whose symptoms are less diagnostic may be the main carriers for the disease; the number of cases in the United States has increased significantly since the introduction of the acellular vaccine. Booster vaccinations are recommended for 11- and 12-year-olds and adults as a means of ameliorating this situation; persons with routine contact with infants should be vaccinated.
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