An Ounce of Prevention

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is spread from person to person by coughing or sneezing. More than 80 percent of infants who contract pertussis are infected by parents or caregivers. Pertussis can cause serious complications in infants, as they are not fully vaccinated. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of infants less than one year of age who become infected with pertussis must be hospitalized. Of those infants who are hospitalized, approximately 20 percent develop pneumonia, 50 percent exhibit apnea, and 1 percent die.