Pertussis Information Center Adolescents & Adults Welcome. Many people think that whooping cough is a childhood disease of the past. But whooping cough has been on the rise, especially among adolescents and adults. In 2005, 60 percent of cases were reported in people over the age of 10. Please click on the images below to learn more about whooping cough and how adolescents and adults can protect themselves.
Click here for some fast facts on whooping cough in adolescents and adults.
 
Fast Facts about Whooping Cough Two-thirds of cases in 2005 were in adolescents and adults. Protection from childhood whooping cough vaccination wears off by adolescence. Whooping cough can be passed from adolescents and adults to vulnerable infants who have not yet received any or all of their vaccines. A booster vaccine called Tdap is available to protect adolescents and adults against whooping cough. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that adolescents age 11 to 18 receive a Tdap booster, which also protects against tetanus and diphtheria. It is also recommended that adults ages 19-64 receive a single dose of Tdap for pertussis protection, especially those who have close contact with infants less than 12 months of age.
The information contained in the Pertussis Information Center Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your health care provider. There may be variations in treatment that your health care provider may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Pertussis.com is an educational project by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
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