Pertussis Vaccination Side Effects

Pertussis, better known to us as whooping cough, is a respiratory disorder commonly found in children. It is a highly contagious disease, characterized by a severe cough which sounds like 'whoop'. Children and adults can be immunized by the pertussis vaccination which is easily available under the name Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. This vaccine was first isolated in the year 1906 which lead to a decrease in the number of deaths caused by whooping cough. If you are wondering about pertussis vaccination side effects, then remember that there are side effects associated with this vaccine, but they are temporary. Let us take a look at the whooping cough vaccination side effects in detail.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccination Side Effects

Whooping cough or pertussis is caused due to a bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis bacteria. In the early stage, the symptoms of this condition appear similar to common cold; but later they turn severe which can lead to a lot of discomfort. You can go through the Buzzle article on whooping cough symptoms for more information. The infection transmits from one person to the other through bodily fluids released in air while sneezing and coughing. Once contracted, the infection lasts for 5-6 weeks. Pertussis in adults can also be as severe as that in children. If you are thinking about the preventive measure for this condition, then note that getting vaccinated is the best preventive measure.

If the child undertakes regular check ups and booster shots, there are lesser chances of contracting this disease. The Dtap vaccine is also very effective in prevention of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. This whole-cell vaccine contains inactive bacteria, and is one of the commonly used vaccinations all over the world. However, one may suffer from some temporary side effects on taking this vaccine. The following are some of the potential pertussis vaccination side effects:

- Irritation
- Fever
- Redness
- Swelling
- Soreness
- Itching
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Tenderness
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Dizziness

It should be noted that not all people experience all of the above mentioned side effects. Either a single or just a couple of these side effects can be found in people on taking this vaccination. There are also chances that a particular side effect may worsen, like a slight fever may turn into a high grade fever. Sometimes, people may not even experience a single side effects and hence, the mentioned fact that these are the potential side effects. Apart from the above mentioned pertussis vaccination side effects, in extremely rare cases, dizziness, difficulty in breathing and seizures may also be experienced in people, which can even lead to death. However, as aforementioned, it is found in rare cases one in 15,000-20,000 cases. It is advised to consult the doctor if any of the above mentioned side effects are observed. At the same time, if any other side effect, apart from those mentioned above, are observed, one should consult the doctor immediately.

According to the facts about whooping cough, the whole-cell vaccine is cheaper and hence, is commonly used everywhere. However, as there are several potential pertussis vaccination side effects, a newer developed variety of vaccination is found in most advanced countries today. Not only children, but adults are also administered with this vaccine to prevent the occurrence of pertussis. These vaccinations are also available in government health care units and hence, can be easily accessible to people.

These were some of the pertussis vaccination side effects that are to be watched out for. Although there are a large number of potential side effects, one should note that the benefits of the vaccination are greater than the risk of side effects. Take care!

By Madhura Pandit