Think Whooping cough - poster

Think Whooping cough

Cases are rising...

Anyone can catch whooping cough but very young babies and young children who have not been protected against it via the maternal pertussis vaccine or received three doses of their own 6-in-1 vaccine are particularly at risk of severe disease. It’s crucial pregnant women have the vaccine which will help protect their unborn baby until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated at 8 weeks old.

Symptoms to look out for:

• Runny nose

• Coughing spasms with:

– Worsening severity

– A gasping sound or ‘whoop’

– Difficulty in breathing

• Change in colour of the face

Whooping cough is a serious illness that is highly infectious. If you suspect whooping cough:

the infants

However, in young infants, the typical ‘whoop’ may never develop and coughing spasms may be followed by periods of apnoea. In older children and adults, the disease may present as persistent cough without these classic symptoms.

• Ensure the patient is in an area where they cannot pass the infection to other vulnerable people such as infants who have not had three doses of pertussis containing vaccine, and pregnant women.

• Immediately notify your local Health Protection Team (HPT). in classic symptoms.

Vaccination saves lives

Vaccination is the only effective means to protect young babies and children from whooping cough.

Use every opportunity to check immunisation history. We recommend that healthcare professionals discuss the pertussis vaccine with the women in their care as part of their conversations about all vaccines that are recommended during pregnancy, or the 6-in-1 vaccine for babies who haven’t received them.

Meddyliwch am y pas

Mae achosion yn cynyddu...

Gall unrhyw un ddal y pâs ond mae babanod ifanc iawn a phlant ifanc sydd ddim wedi’u hamddiffyn trwy’r brechlyn pertwsis mamol neu sydd ddim wedi cael tri dos o’u brechlyn 6-mewn-1 mewn perygl arbennig o gael clefyd difrifol. Mae’n hanfodol bod menywod beichiog yn cael y brechlyn a fydd yn helpu i amddiffyn eu babi heb ei eni nes ei fod yn ddigon hen i gael ei frechu’n rheolaidd yn 8 wythnos oed.

Symptomau i gadw llygad amdanynt:

• Trwyn yn rhedeg

• Sbasmau peswch gyda:

– Difrifoldeb yn gwaethygu

– Sŵn swnllyd neu ‘wwp’

– Anhawster anadlu

• Newid lliw’r wyneb

Fodd bynnag, mewn babanod ifanc, efallai na fydd y ‘wŵop’ nodweddiadol byth yn datblygu a gall pyliau o beswch gael eu dilyn gan gyfnodau o apnoea. Mewn plant hŷn ac oedolion, gall y clefyd ymddangos fel peswch parhaus heb y symptomau clasurol hyn.

Mae’r pas yn salwch difrifol sy’n hynod heintus. Os ydych yn amau peswch:

• Sicrhewch fod y claf mewn lle na all drosglwyddo’r haint i bobl eraill sy’n agored i niwed megis babanod, y rhai sydd ag imiwnedd gwan a merched beichiog.

• Rhowch wybod ar unwaith i’ch Tîm Diogelu Iechyd lleol.

Mae brechu yn achub bywydau

Brechu yw’r unig ffordd effeithiol o amddiffyn babanod ifanc a phlant rhag y pas.

Defnyddiwch bob cyfle i wirio eich hanes imiwneiddio. Rydym yn argymell bod gweithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol yn trafod y brechlyn pertwsis gyda’r menywod yn eu gofal fel rhan o’u sgyrsiau am yr holl frechlynnau a argymhellir yn ystod beichiogrwydd, neu’r brechlyn 6-mewn-1 ar gyfer babanod sydd heb eu derbyn..