This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about infectious diseases. A lot of the better-known infectious diseases are often called “childhood diseases” because they tended to strike children. People who had the disease and survived retained an immunity. Now that we have vaccinations, these diseases have been reduced drastically, but they are still around, and doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say you can’t let your guard down.

One illness that’s made a recent comeback is whooping cough, which can be deadly for infants. Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, a UT Southwestern obstetrician, suggests that new parents or those who will be caring for a newborn get a whooping cough booster. It may take a while for the infant’s vaccination to give full protection. Talk to your doctor about other vaccinations you might need to have updated.