Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about taking care of children so they stay safe and healthy. One thing parents and other caregivers can do to help their children is to stay healthy themselves. That’s especially the case when it comes to whooping cough. There are more cases of this highly contagious disease being reported, and it takes a while before an infant vaccination gives full protection.
Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, an obstetrician/gynecologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says parents and caregivers of infants should receive a whooping cough booster shot. Right after the child is born is probably the best time. The disease isn’t as serious for adults, but it can be deadly for an infant. If the people around a child are vaccinated, that makes the child less likely to become infected.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcare/medicalservices/obgyn.html to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in gynecology and obstetrics.
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January 2008
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