Whooping Cough Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Infographic

Whooping cough: more than just a cough

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• Read text equivalent (for Section 508 access)
• Fact sheet for parents: whooping cough and the vaccine (shot) to prevent it
• Learn more about how whooping cough spreads and see photos of whooping cough
• 14 diseases you almost forgot about (thanks to vaccines)

Whooping Cough (Text Version)

Whooping cough (pertussis). A contagious disease that can be deadly for babies

Whooping cough can be dangerous, especially for newborns and babies

Whooping cough can lead to pneumonia (a serious lung infection, convulsions, brain damage, apnea, death (illustration of hospital with sign stating "About half of babies younger than 1 year old who get whooping cough are hospitalized.")

Symptoms of whooping cough: low-grade fever, exhaustion after coughing fits, vomiting during or after coughing fits, runny nose, apnea—babies may have a pause in breathing, paroxysms—coughing fits followed by a high-pitched "whoop," babies may have little or no cough.

(Illustration of child's body; symptoms are listed, each pointing to the relevant spot on the body—such as throat area for apnea)

Whooping cough is highly contagious. Here's how it's spread:

Coughing and sneezing (illustration of facing profiles with one person's open mouth releasing particles toward other person)

Sharing breathing space (illustration of woman's face very close to a baby's face)

Whooping cough in the United States

Since 2010, we see between 10,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough each year in the United States. Cases, which include people of all ages, are reported in every state. (Illustration of continental US map covered with dots)

Protect Your Child

Make sure your child gets all 5 doses of DTaP vaccine to help protect him against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus…

Dose #1 at 2 months
Dose #2 at 4 months
Dose #3 at 6 months
Dose #4 at 15-18 months
Dose #5 at 4-6 years

Pregnant women should get the whooping cough vaccine during each pregnancy to help protect their newborns until they get DTaP vaccine at 2 months old. (Illustration of pregnant woman)

Immunization. Power to Protect.

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents

November 2016

(Logos of HHS, CDC, America Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians)

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