Whopping cough is typically not deadly to adults. If you’re diagnosed with pertussis, you will receive antibiotics that stop the disease from spreading, and they lessen the severity of your disease. However, pertussis is extremely dangerous to babies and young children.
The immune system of young babies is still developing, so they aren’t able to ward off disease and infection as well. Babies with whopping cough are typically treated in a hospital because they are at higher risk for complications, such as pneumonia, and even death. During a coughing spell, a young baby may stop breathing for a few seconds. For this reason, it’s recommended that their care is monitored in a medical setting.
Because whopping cough is potentially life-threatening to young infants, it’s vital that doctors give pregnant women the pertussis vaccine.
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