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Whooping cough

This page contains information on the whooping cough vaccination. For more information on whooping cough, and why it’s important for babies to be vaccinated, visit Whooping cough (pertussis).

Bacteria

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a serious infection caused by bacteria which damage the breathing tubes. It occurs mainly in young children and is most serious in children under one year of age.

Whooping cough is a common disease in New Zealand. There are outbreaks of the disease every three to five years. Over 5000 cases were reported in New Zealand between 2004 and August 2005. In 2004, 159 children needed hospital care, and one child died.

Vaccine

This disease is covered on the New Zealand Immunisation Schedule. The vaccines used are INFANRIX®- hexa, INFANRIX-IPV™ and Boostrix™.

How it is spread

The disease is spread by coughing.

Symptoms and illness

Whooping cough begins with a runny nose and temperature followed by a cough. The coughing spells are so strong that it is hard for the child to breathe. Children often gasp for air and some make a ‘whooping’ sound. They may also vomit after coughing. Most children are well between the coughing spells.

Severe risks associated with whooping cough

  • The cough may last up to three months.
  • It can lead to pneumonia.
  • It can lead to brain damage, convulsions and death. The risk of brain damage ranges from about one in 100 to one in 1000.

Severe risks associated with the vaccine

  • In some overseas trials of acellular pertussis, between 0.7 and 2.6 recipients in 10,000 had fits or ‘shock-collapse’ – neither of which cause long term problems. These reactions have not happened in overseas trials of the vaccine now being used in New Zealand
  • There is no association between the vaccine and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
  • Anaphylaxis is very rare.

Resources

Whooping cough factsheet cover image
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
A Ministry of Health publication.

Related websites

Public Health Surveillance
Access to selected New Zealand public health surveillance data and information.

  • Pertussis report – find the latest information on whooping cough cases in New Zealand.
     


Kidshealth
Developed by the Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand.

Related areas

Page last updated: 17 May 2012