Did you know that whooping cough has been on the rise this year?

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. This causes severe coughing spells, which can result in a “whooping” sound when the child breathes in. It mainly affects babies younger than 6 months old who aren’t fully protected by immunizations, but it can also affect older children including teens.