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Medical Group Says Serious Cases Of Serious cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, are increasing among babies, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Pertussis can cause violent coughing that can last for weeks and make it difficult for infants to eat, drink or breathe. Pertus-sis can also lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and even death. Cases of pertussis decreased after a vaccine was introduced in the 1940s but then started increasing again in the 1970s, despite high rates of vaccinations. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied data on over 30,000 whooping cough cases between 1980 and 1999 and found an increase of almost 50% of new cases in the 1990s. Almost all of the increase was among infants younger than five months who where too young to be fully vaccinated. The New York State Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule calls for babies to receive four shots of the combination diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) vaccine when they are 2, 4, 6, and between 15 to 18 months old, then again when they are between 4 to 6 years old. The Medical Society of the State of New York strongly supports full immunization of infants and child ren, as well as adults, against pertussis and other preventable diseases. The researchers recommend that parents decrease the chance that their babies will be exposed to pertussis by keeping infants away from anyone who has a consistent cough, even if is not a violent cough. This information is provided by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY). For more health-related information and referrals to physicians in your community, contact your local county medical society.
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