Pertussis

Whooping cough is the common name for pertussis, a highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract. It is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis. It occurs more often in children and adolescents, but adults can also develop pertussis.

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What are the symptoms of pertussis?

Pertussis starts like a common cold with sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough that then develops into severe coughing spells. The coughing spells may last as long as 6 to 12 weeks. The disease gets its common name from the “whoop” sound people often make as they try to catch their breath after one of these coughing spells. The coughing spells begin very abruptly and may end with vomiting.

Babies less than 6 months old, and teenagers and adults, often do not have the whoop-sounding cough, so anyone who has a persistent cough should see a doctor to make sure the cough is not pertussis.

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How do you get pertussis?

Anyone, at any age, can get pertussis. Pertussis or whooping cough is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The pertussis bacteria are spread into the air and other people breathe them in. You can also become infected through direct contact with discharges from the nose or throat of an infected person. If you are not protected against pertussis through vaccination, you can become ill with this disease.

You are more likely to get whooping cough if you are in close contact with someone who has the disease. Pertussis often spreads among family members, in schools and in other situations where there is very close contact between people.

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When is pertussis contagious?

Pertussis is contagious in the early stage before the coughing spells develop, and for 3 weeks after the coughing spells begin. However, this disease is no longer contagious after 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Children with pertussis should not attend school/daycare until 5 days after start of treatment.

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Is there a treatment for pertussis?

A person with pertussis is usually given an antibiotic, called erythromycin. People who have been in close contact with someone who has pertussis may also be given this medicine. This includes people living in the same house, and other household and daycare contacts. The medication is usually prescribed for 7 days. For those who are allergic or sensitive to erythromycin there are other antibiotics that your doctor can prescribe.

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Is pertussis dangerous?

Young children who have not been vaccinated are at greater risk for serious complications than older children and adults. Sometimes, but not often, pertussis can cause pneumonia, convulsions or seizures, and/or encephalopathy (brain damage). In Canada, pertussis kills one to three infants per year, usually those who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated

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How can I protect myself and/or my family?

The best way to protect your children against pertussis is to get them immunized. The pertussis vaccine is part of the routine childhood vaccine schedule, which is given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 18 months old, at 4 to 6 years and again at 14 to 16 years of age. Also, if pertussis is circulating in your child’s school/daycare watch for symptoms and contact your physician if symptoms develop.

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For further information call Ottawa Public Health Information at 580-6744 ext. 24179, or visit one of the web sites listed below:

Canadian Paediatric Society
Ontario Ministry of Health - HealthyOntario.com
Health Canada