What is the most common cause of death in pertussis?

The most common complication, and the cause of most pertussis-related deaths, is secondary bacterial pneumonia. Young infants are at highest risk for developing pertussis-associated complications.

How often do babies die from whooping cough?

Each year, five to 15 babies die from whooping cough in the United States. In most cases, these infants were too young to get their own shot, the CDC researchers said.

How does pertussis cause death?

Severe cases can lead to death. Fatalities caused by pertussis are most common in young infants, who die due to pneumonia or due to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain.

What is the mortality rate of pertussis?

The annual worldwide incidence of pertussis is estimated to be 48.5 million cases, with a mortality rate of nearly 295,000 deaths per year. The case-fatality rate among infants in low-income countries may be as high as 4%.

How common is pertussis in infants?

Rates of Reported Pertussis Only 7%–11% of the reported cases were recognized in infants, and reported adult cases were <3%. In the early whole-cell pertussis vaccine era, 54% of reported cases were noted in infants [14].

What causes whooping cough in babies?

Whooping cough is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It’s very contagious. It’s spread from child to child through coughing and sneezing. Once the bacteria are in a child’s airways, it causes swelling of the airways and mucus.

Can babies die from pertussis?

Of those babies who get treatment for whooping cough in a hospital, about 1 out of 4 will get pneumonia and 1 or 2 out of 100 will die. Other complications include violent, uncontrolled shaking, life-threatening pauses in breathing, and brain disease.

Is whooping cough fatal in infants?

Whooping cough is a very serious respiratory (in the lungs and breathing tubes) infection. It is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It can cause violent coughing fits. Whooping cough is most harmful for young babies and can be deadly.

How do babies get pertussis?

What is the most common complication of pertussis?

The most common complications in another study of adults with pertussis were:

  • Weight loss.
  • Urinary incontinence.
  • Syncope.
  • Rib fractures from severe coughing.

Can babies survive whooping cough?