Study Finds Siblings Are Top Cause of Whooping Cough Infection for Infants
Siblings between the ages of four and nine are the most common source of pertussis infection for infants, according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. The study found that mothers, who previously were the most common source of infection for infants, transmitted the disease in about 20% of cases studied, while siblings were responsible for transmission in more than 35% of cases.
- "Siblings Most Common Cause of Whooping Cough Infection for Infants" (Gross, "State of Health," KQED, 9/7).