What happens if a pregnant woman gets whooping cough?

Whooping cough (pertussis) infection can cause serious complications in babies, including death. This is why it is recommended that you are immunised against whooping cough and influenza during every pregnancy. Influenza immunisation is free and recommended at any time during pregnancy.

How common is whooping cough in Ireland?

Whooping Cough is common in Ireland and in many developed countries. The number of cases reported varies year to year. In 2019, there were 165 cases of pertussis in Ireland. There was a large increase in cases in 2012, with 458 cases reported in Ireland.

Is whooping cough vaccine mandatory while pregnant?

Experts do not know what level of whooping cough antibodies is needed to protect anyone, including babies, from getting sick. That is why CDC recommends all women get a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy — even women with some antibodies due to a previous infection or vaccine.

What stage of pregnancy do you get whooping cough?

When should I have the whooping cough vaccine? The best time to get vaccinated to protect your baby is from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy. This maximises the chance that your baby will be protected from birth, through the transfer of your antibodies before he or she is born.

Can whooping cough affect fetus?

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very contagious disease that can be deadly for babies. It spreads from person to person, usually by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others. Learn how you can help protect your baby from whooping cough.

How do you get rid of whooping cough when pregnant?

The most effective treatment for whooping cough is a course of antibiotics, which your doctor can prescribe for you. Antibiotics will help you recover from the symptoms of whooping cough, and will also reduce the time you will be infectious to others.

What is the chance of catching whooping cough?

How easy is it to catch whooping cough? Whooping cough is very easy to catch. If a person in your household has it and you did not get the vaccine, you have up to a 90% chance of catching it.

Do fathers need whooping cough vaccine?

One thing you don’t want to pass on to your new baby is whooping cough, or pertussis, a highly contagious disease that can be deadly for infants. As we honor dads this Father’s Day, the physicians of Texas Medical Association (TMA) urge dads- and grandfathers-to-be to get vaccinated, before baby arrives.

Can you still get whooping cough if vaccinated?

Can people who have been vaccinated still get whooping cough? Sometimes when vaccinated people are exposed, they get whooping cough anyway, although they usually have milder symptoms, a shorter illness, and may be less likely to spread the disease to others.

Does whooping cough cross the placenta?

These antibodies are then transferred through the placenta to the baby, who then has the mother’s own protection against the disease in their blood right from birth. Very small quantities of pertussis antibodies may also be transferred to the baby through breast milk.