LAGAWE, Ifugao(PIA) - - The Provincial Health Office (PHO) enjoined parents to protect their children against the Pertussis or whoofing cough to avoid complications incase infected of said disease.

Yvone Indunan of the PHO said that children ages six months to five years old should be vaccinated with three dozes of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTAP) or pentavalent vaccine. These vaccines are free in the  rural health units or health centers.

She explained that pertussis is a highly contagious disease caused by a bacteria transmitted through droplets carried in the cough or sneezed  by a sick individual. A person sick from pertussis may infect up to 18 other people and the risk of death is highest for infants and babies.

Early symptoms of pertussis may be mild and seem like flu such as runny-nose; fever; mild cough; difficulty of breathing or pauses of breathing; whooping sounds from breathing; vomiting after a fit of coughs. Complications include pneumonia; convulsions and death.

Indunan stressed that vaccines remain to be the best protection from severe cases of pertussis. Other measures to prevent the spread of the disease include wearing of facemask especially when sick; practice proper respiratory etiquette and hygiene; limit interaction with others when sick and seek medical advice if cough last atleast two weeks or more.

“Pertussis can be cured with antibiotics when it is detected early that’s why early consultation is important. It not managed early, treatment may takes months. Aside from the patient, close contacts will also be treated with antibiotics,” Indunan added. (MBL-PIA CAR, Ifugao)