Whooping cough cases are rising. Here’s what you need to know about the pertussis outbreak.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection that passes from person to person. While it begins with the same symptoms as the common cold, it progresses into a severe cough that can last for weeks or even months. The name ‘whooping cough’ comes from the distinct ‘whooping’ noise that comes when the infected person coughs so much that they end up gasping for air.

According to the CDC, whooping cough is most dangerous for those who are one year of age or under, those with compromised immune systems or those with moderate severe asthma, even if it’s being treated. Complications can include pulmonary hypertension, permanent lung damage, an inability to gain weight, seizures or even death. Half of all babies who contract pertussis require hospitalization.

“Pertussis is a disease that many thought we had eliminated with the use of vaccines to provide protection,” said pediatric infectious disease specialist Robin LaCroix, MD, “As vaccine uptake diminishes, we see a rise in pertussis cases across the country.”

• What is pertussis? How is it transmitted?
• Why is pertussis also called ‘whooping cough’?
• What are the different stages of pertussis?
• When should you seek care if you or a loved one suspect you have whooping cough?
• Why are vaccines so important when it comes to protecting children from pertussis?
• Are Dtap and Tdap vaccines lifelong or do you need a booster in adulthood?
• Is the whooping cough vaccine safe?
• How does lessening vaccine rates put more children at risk?
• Why is it important to speak with your pediatrician about health information you find online?
• Should pregnant women receive the vaccine against pertussis before giving birth?
• What role do family members and friends play in protecting a newborn from pertussis?
• Why booster shots are an essential part of a vaccine schedule
• And more