Download Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Disease

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Disease
What is pertussis?
Who is at risk for getting pertussis?
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough or the “100Day-Cough,” is a respiratory infection caused by a
bacterium called Bordetella pertussis. It can spread very
easily and infect people of any age.
Pertussis can cause serious complications in:
How can I get pertussis?
The bacteria that cause pertussis are spread through
droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or
sneezes. You can also become infected through direct
contact with secretions from the nose or throat of an
infected person.
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infants under one year of age
pregnant women in their late third trimester, as
they may pass the infection on to their newborns
people who have problems with their immune
system
people who have underlying medical conditions
(i.e. chronic lung disease, severe asthma,
respiratory insufficiency, cystic fibrosis,
congenital heart disease)
What are the symptoms of pertussis?
What can happen if I get pertussis?
Pertussis symptoms appear in three stages. In the first
two stages, the person is highly infectious.
Pertussis infection is worse in infants and young
children. Infants are at the highest risk for the most
serious complications. People infected with pertussis
can develop pneumonia. It can also cause seizures,
convulsions, brain damage, and death.
In the first stage, which lasts for one to two weeks, the
symptoms are similar to those of the common cold:
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runny nose or nasal congestion
red and watery eyes
gradually worsening irritating cough
sneezing
low grade fever
The second stage lasts one to six weeks or longer. The
symptoms include:
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series of coughs with no breath in between (the
ill person may even stop breathing temporarily)
coughing fits end in a high-pitched whoop as the
ill person takes a breath in
coughing spells which often end in vomiting
exhaustion from coughing so much
shortness of breath
In adults, the symptoms of whooping cough may
resemble those of bronchitis. Infants under six months
of age, vaccinated children, and adults may not whoop
loudly, or even at all.
The final stage may last for one to two months. The
person is not considered infectious at this stage. During
this time, the coughing episodes gradually occur less
often, and become less severe.
Symptoms can appear from six to 20 days after contact
with an infected individual with symptoms. The average
person becomes ill within nine to ten days.
When is someone with pertussis contagious?
Without antibiotics, the person is infectious for three
weeks from the start of symptoms. A person is no longer
infectious after five days of effective antibiotic therapy.
People with immune system problems may have
difficulty fighting the infection. People with underlying
medical conditions are especially prone to complications
including weight loss due to vomiting, pneumonia,
severe breathing problems, collapsed lung, rib fractures,
and an increase in angina pain.
What should I do if I have symptoms of pertussis?
If you think you have pertussis, call your doctor’s office.
Tell them about your symptoms and that you may have
been exposed to pertussis disease. The office needs to
arrange appropriate infection control measures for the
time of your appointment so that the infection is not
given to others.
Your doctor may swab the back of your nasal passages
through your nose for testing.
Someone who has pertussis should stay home from
daycare, preschool, school, or work until he or she has
taken five full days of antibiotics prescribed by the
doctor. Without antibiotics, persons infected with
pertussis should stay home from daycare, preschool,
school or work for 21 days from the onset of symptoms.
Can I get pertussis more than once?
Yes. Infection with pertussis disease does not give
lifelong immunity.
How is pertussis treated?
Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics. Take the
antibiotic as your doctor prescribes making sure to finish
all of the medicine. If side effects from the medication
are giving you problems, contact your doctor right away.
January 2017
The antibiotics will eliminate the bacteria, but will not
lesson symptoms. Even after treatment to kill the
bacteria, a person may continue to cough as the body
repairs the damage to the lining of the breathing
passages. The cough may be worse at night.
What do I do if I come into contact with someone
who has pertussis?
Consult with your physician. There are antibiotics that
may be recommended to prevent infection if someone is
considered at high risk for complications, unimmunized,
or those that are likely to come into contact with high risk
groups.
Monitor your health for symptoms of pertussis for the
next three to four weeks. If symptoms develop, contact
your family doctor. Explain that you have been exposed
to pertussis and are now ill. If you are not fully
immunized against pertussis, call your family doctor and
arrange to have your immunizations updated.
What can I do to prevent pertussis?
Get vaccinated! Infants, teenagers and adults should be
vaccinated against whooping cough.
For full protection against pertussis, infants and toddlers
need four doses of pertussis vaccine starting at two
months of age followed by a booster dose between 4-6
years of age, as well as 14-16 years of age.
Adults may not have received any protection from
pertussis since they entered kindergarten. A single dose
of ADACEL® or BOOSTRIX® is recommended once, as
either an adolescent or adult booster, after a primary
childhood series, to increase their immunity that has
decreased over time.
This vaccine is publicly funded for infants, children,
teenagers, and adults up to age 64.
Immunity from the vaccine gradually decreases over
time. Protection against severe pertussis illness begins
to lessen after about five years. A booster dose of the
vaccine should be received every 10 years.
More information about these vaccines can be found on
our website at halton.ca/immunize.
Where can I get more information about pertussis?
For more information about pertussis, talk to your health
care provider or contact the Halton Region Health
Department.
January 2017