Pertussis (whooping cough)

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial disease transmitted through coughing. It is characterised by an extremely exhausting cough and can have lasting consequences for the lungs and nervous system. Whooping cough often leads to an ear infection.

The approach to preventing whooping cough is largely based on vaccination, which offers complete protection against the illness. As this protection is not permanent, booster doses are required throughout a person's life.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms generally appear 7-10 days after infection:

• Violent coughing fits, sometimes accompanied by a 'whooping' sound
• Difficulty breathing
• Vomiting as a result of coughing
• Fatigue

In infants, the disease can actually cause them to stop breathing (apnoea). It may also lead to serious complications such as pneumonia.

Vaccination

Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing whooping cough.

Who should get vaccinated?

• Infants
  From the age of 2 months: 2 doses administered at the ages of 2 months and 4 months, followed by a booster between 11 and 12 months.
  
  
• Pregnant women
  A vaccine given during pregnancy will protect both mother and child. To maximise its effectiveness, the vaccine should ideally be administered during the second trimester (between the 13th and 26th week of gestation), but it can also be administered up to the 36th week (or 2 weeks before the birth at the latest).
  

Boosters

• every 10 years for adolescents and adults over the age of 15
• an early booster dose for adolescents from the age of 11-12 (early booster if their last dose was over 5 years ago) instead of 15, if they have been in contact with a person with whooping cough in their class at school (contact) or in their family if they live with a newborn who has not yet been vaccinated. The next dose will then be given 10 years after the early booster

In Luxembourg, the vaccine is given free of charge in keeping with the vaccination schedule.