What is Pertussis? Side Effects and Information on the DAPTACEL Vaccine
Learn here about this highly contagious and sometimes fatal disease and how you can protect your child.
Pertussis (also called whooping cough) is a highly contagious disease that causes severe coughing spells. Children with pertussis develop thick, sticky mucus in the windpipe, which causes a series of a dozen or more short coughs in rapid succession. The “whoop” is the loud gasp children make as they struggle to breathe in through their narrowed airway passages between the coughing spasms.
Pertussis can occur at any age. However, infants and young children, particularly those who are not immunized or who are not fully immunized, are at highest risk for getting severe whooping cough and suffering from serious, potentially life-threatening complications. It can also be particularly dangerous to older seniors, having devastatingly fatal effects.
Vaccination is the very best way to protect your baby from pertussis. So make an appointment with your child’s doctor today and ask about DAPTACEL vaccine.
Safety Information About DAPTACEL vaccine:
DAPTACEL�® (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed) is a vaccine given to infants and children 6 weeks through 6 years (prior to 7th birthday) to prevent 3 serious diseases: Diphtheria, Tetanus (lockjaw), and Pertussis (whooping cough). And as with any vaccine, vaccination with DAPTACEL vaccine may not protect 100% of the individuals. There are definitely risks associated with all vaccines. The most common side effects with DAPTACEL vaccine are redness, swelling, and soreness or tenderness where the injection was given; fever, fussiness, and crying more than usual side effects, with any vaccination. Other side effects may occur. DAPTACEL vaccine should not be given to children who, after a previous dose of the vaccine, have had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) or encephalopathy not attributable to another cause. When administering an intramuscular injection, like DAPTACEL vaccine, in people with bleeding disorders, caution should be exercised because they may develop a serious bruise or collection of blood at the injection site.
For more information about DAPTACEL vaccine, refer to the Patient Information on DAPTACEL.com and talk to your child’s health-care provider.
Is the DAPTACEL Vaccine Safe?
DAPTACEL vaccine Has been demonstrated and proven to be safe.
The rates of adverse reactions to DAPTACEL vaccine (n= 2587) were similar to the DT placebo-control vaccine (n=2574).
A vaccine with mild side effects may help parents comply with immunization recommendations for their children.
There are risks associated with all vaccines. Local and systemic adverse reactions may or may not include the following; redness, swelling, pain or tenderness at the injection site, fever, irritability, prolonged crying, drowsiness, vomiting, and anorexia. Other local and systemic adverse reactions may occur.
Remember, immunizations are one of the most important ways parents can protect their children against diseases like pertussis. Before the pertussis vaccine was developed, over 260,000 cases of pertussis and 9,000 deaths due to pertussis were reported each year in the United States. But thanks to vaccinations, millions of children are protected from serious, life-threatening diseases like pertussis.
Below are some references all associated with Pertussis disease:
References:
1. Edwards KM, Decker MD, Mortimer EA Jr. Pertussis vaccine. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, eds. Vaccines. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1999:293-344.
2. Scott PT, Clark JB, Miser WF. Pertussis: an update on primary prevention and outbreak control. Am Fam Physician.1997;56:1121-1128.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pertussis-United States, 1997-2000. MMWR. 2002;51(4):73-76.
