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What is pertussis?
Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is a serious infection of the respiratory system caused by a bacteria. It is very contagious and can occur in people of all ages.
The disease is most serious in young children especially those under one year of age. In this age group pertussis may lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and occasionally death.
In most cases the disease begins with cold like symptoms including runny nose or congestion, sneezing and mild cough or fever. After one to two weeks the cough worsens and the infected person can experience severe coughing spells with a loud whooping sound while inhaling. The coughing spells may be worse at night and may end in vomiting. Older children and adults may have a prolonged cough without the whooping sound. This stage may last two to three weeks followed by a persistent dry cough that could last three to four more weeks.
The pertussis bacteria is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Others can then breathe in the droplets carrying the bacteria. It can also spread through contact with an infected person's saliva or mucous, such as by kissing or sharing drinking cups or utensils.
A person with pertussis can infect others from seven days after their initial exposure to three weeks after the onset of severe coughing.
How is pertussis treated?
Pertussis is treated with antibiotics. It will not cure the cough but it will prevent the spread of disease to others by clearing the bacteria from the infected person's body. After five days of antibiotics the person can no longer spread the disease even though they may still have a cough.
In some cases, antibiotics may also be advised for close contacts of someone who has pertussis. This may include people living in the same house, infants less than one year of age and pregnant women in their third trimester.
How can the spread of pertussis be prevented?
Immunization is the best way to prevent the spread of pertussis. In Ontario two kinds of combination vaccines are publicly funded. Routine childhood vaccines include protection against pertussis for those under seven years old and another publicly funded vaccine (booster dose) for those aged 14 - 16.
Adults between the ages of 19 - 64 can now receive a publicly funded dose of vaccine that contains pertussis. This vaccine also contains tetanus and diphtheria and can replace one of the boosters given every 10 years.
Pertussis can be minimized or prevented by practicing good hand hygiene, and covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Pertussis is a reportable disease. The Huron County Health Unit monitors all cases and contacts of pertussis. A person infected with pertussis should stay home and avoid contact with pregnant women and infants until after they have received at least 5 days out of the 7 day course of antibiotics.
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