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Newborn Succumbs to Complications from Whooping Cough
Bordetella pertussis, a highly contagious, deadly bacteria that is preventable through DTaP vaccines.
A newborn in Snohomish County, Washington, died this week of pertussis, doctors are saying. The baby’s death is the second in the state this year that has been attributed to the disease, also known as whooping cough.
Health officials aren’t saying how the newborn was exposed to whooping cough, but the 52 reported cases of whooping cough this year are more than double the 25 cases last year.
Snohomish County saw a spike in the number of confirmed pertussis cases in the first two months of 2011. Health officials are urging parents to vaccinate their children against the preventable disease, not only to protect them from contracting the illness but also from spreading it.
The baby who died this week was too young for a pertussis vaccination, typically administered at the 2-month well baby check and then again at 4, 6 and 12-18 months old. A final pertussis innocculation is given at around 4 years old.
Whooping cough is highly contagious infection that attacks the lining of breathing passageways causing them to become inflamed and narrowed. Breathing — as well as eating and drinking — becomes difficult. The infection often leads to pneumonia.
Children 4 years old and younger who have not received the DTaP vaccine are most vulnerable to the effects of pertussis.
Photo: humanhealth.com
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9 Comments
elendy commented on Aug 19 11 at 5:34 pmBargggg!! People vaccinate your children!!!
This is so disturbing and just makes me so angry. I know we can’t force vaccines on people, but seriously – this is a public health issue; and your rights end at the next person’s nose.
The best piece I’ve ever heard on this whole issue was an episode of This American Life – http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/370/ruining-it-for-the-rest-of-us
In which they tell the story of a community sent into quarantine b.c. of one non-vaccinating family who went overseas and came back infecting several small children (<1 yr old) with measles. It is very objective and tells all sides, but, as the extraordinarily understanding mother of a baby who almost died says, if people don't want to vaccinate, we can't make them, but they should have to live on an island somewhere..alone…away from my kids.
Andrea commented on Aug 19 11 at 5:59 pmFunny how Strollerderby never mentions the babies who die as a result of the vaccine. Last year, 9 babies in California died of whooping cough. During that same time frame, 27 died from acknowledged complications of the vaccine. THREE times as many! How many other babies died from the vaccine, but were ascribed other causes? Cause there is ZERO incentive to do that, right?
Make your choice, by all means. But keep in mind that babies die from vaccines, too. Herd immunity might come at the expense of YOUR baby’s life.
Laura commented on Aug 19 11 at 9:26 pmWhat’s most important is that parents, grandparents, daycare workers — and really any other adult who is medically able to -get a tetnus/diptheria/pertussis booster.
goddess commented on Aug 19 11 at 11:26 pmMy oldest son died from complications of his DTP vaccines.
Linda, t.o.o. commented on Aug 21 11 at 4:03 am“Last year, 9 babies in California died of whooping cough. During that same time frame, 27 died from acknowledged complications of the vaccine.” I’d like a source on that one, please.
goddess commented on Aug 21 11 at 11:15 amOr the vaccine may be contributing to even MORE whooping cough.
Link : http://www.cidd.psu.edu/research/synopses/acellular-vaccine-enhancement-b.-parapertussis
Joulia commented on Aug 23 11 at 12:26 pmGoddess – I’m sorry for your loss, but please actually read the material you source to see what the actual message is
Andrea – source please!
Miss Chris commented on Aug 23 11 at 6:42 pmThe real problem with Andrea’s “information”, if it is accurate, is that by comparing a big number and a small number it implies that the population would be safer without the vaccine. Only 9 from whooping cough, but 27 from vaccines! Sounds really bad but its practically the definition of “apples and oranges”. Right now most children are vaccinated but as rates go down the rates of death and injury from disease will increase. If the vaccination rate went to zero (and consequently, the rate of vaccine related injury went to zero) we are could reasonably assume that more than 27 kids a year would die from whooping cough. The disease is still much more dangerous than the vaccine, in spite of those numbers.
Amanda Snyder commented on Jan 14 12 at 6:14 pmMy 2 years is healthy and happy due to his shots. My second one will be vaccinated when he is old enough and I am going to see if I can be or need my vaccination be updated, my hubby too. We are not taking our chances with our kids.
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