DOH warns vs. kissing babies on lips amid rising pertussis cases

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reminded parents and guardians to refrain from kissing their infants on the lips to help avoid transmission of pertussis, which is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection.

While emphasizing that pertussis or “whooping cough” is preventable by getting babies as young as 6 weeks old vaccinated, DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said that there are other measures that could be done to keep children away from getting infected.

“Sa mga mommy natin na may baby o bagong silang na sanggol, iwasan muna natin ang lips to lips sa kanila. Kung may onting sipon tayo, kailangan ang kumarga sa mga baby, mga sanggol ay kailangan may mask muna tayo. Maghugas ng kamay,” he said.

(To mothers with babies or newborn babies, avoid kissing them on the lips first. If the person carrying the baby has a cold, s/he should be wearing a face mask. Wash your hands as well.)

Pertussis may be transmitted when an infected person sneezes or coughs within three feet. It also causes influenza-like symptoms like mild fever, colds, and coughs seven to 10 days after exposure.

Children with pertussis may also experience apnea or the stopping and restarting of breathing while asleep, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting.

So far, two areas have declared an outbreak of pertussis—Quezon City and Iloilo City.

The DOH said that additional three million more pentavalent vaccine doses are expected to arrive in the Philippines “at the soonest possible time.” This vaccine would protect not only against Pertussis, but also against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News