Because the incidence and severity of the disease greatly decrease with age, and because adverse reactions may be more common in older children and adults, pertussis immunization is not generally recommended for persons 7 years of age or older. For this reason, adult immunization with pertussis vaccine may be recommended in the future when acellular pertussis vaccines become available. Drowsiness and anorexia are also common. Reducing the temperature may also minimize the occurrence of febrile convulsions. Hence acetaminophen prophylaxis is particularly recommended for children with a personal or family history of convulsions.
Most convulsions are brief, generalized and self-limited and are usually associated with fever.
All such children were normal on follow-up 12 to 18 months later. Because these events are so rare, it is not known which component of the combined DPT vaccine is responsible for the allergic reaction. Therefore, no further doses of any of the DPT components should be given unless assessment implicates the responsible antigen. Children who have had one of these episodes with a previous pertussis vaccine dose can continue to receive pertussis vaccine if the incidence of the disease is high in their area. Deferral Deferral of pertussis vaccination may be considered in children with a progressive, evolving or unstable neurologic condition in order to prevent confusion of the diagnosis if an adverse event occurs.