Infanrix (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis) Drug Information: Medication Guide and Patient Information

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May 27, 2012

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Whooping Cough (Pertussis) »

Whooping cough (pertussis) facts

Whooping cough (pertussis) is an acute, highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Whooping cough commonly affects infants and young children but can be prevented by immunization with pertussis vaccine.
Adults may develop whooping cough as their immunity from childhood vaccines wears off over time.
Clinical symptoms occur in three stages; the characteristic bursts of coughing are observed in the second, or paroxysmal, stage.
Antibiotics can help reduce the severity of the disease when administered early in the course of the disease.
Secondary bacterial pneumonia is the most common complication of whooping cough.

What is whooping cough? What is the history of whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a bacterial upper respiratory infection that leads to episodes of violent coughing. The d...

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PATIENT INFORMATION

Information for Vaccine Recipients and Parents or Guardians

Parents or guardians should be informed by the healthcare provider of the potential benefits and risks of the vaccine, and of the importance of completing the immunization series. It is important that the parent or guardian be questioned concerning occurrence of any symptoms and/or signs of an adverse reaction after a previous dose of a diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine. The healthcare provider should inform the parents or guardians about the potential for adverse reactions that have been temporally associated with administration of INFANRIX (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis) or other vaccines containing similar components. The parent or guardian accompanying the recipient should be told to report severe or unusual adverse events to the physician or clinic where the vaccine was administered.

The parent or guardian should be given the Vaccine Information Statements, which are required by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 to be given prior to immunization. These materials are available free of charge at the CDC website (www.cdc.gov/nip).

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has established a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to accept all reports of suspected adverse events after the administration of any vaccine, including but not limited to the reporting of events required by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.⁵ The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967. Reporting forms may also be obtained at the VAERS website at www.vaers.hhs.gov.

REFERENCES

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. General recommendations on immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). MMWR 2002;51(RR-2):1-35.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/6/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.