Authored by: Larry Kociolek, MD, MSCI, FSHEA, FPIDS, Danielle Zerr, MD, MPH, Doneen West, PharmD, MBA
What is pertussis?
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a very contagious respiratory illness. It is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis and can be treated with antibiotics. Early symptoms are like the common cold. The key difference is pertussis can progress to a severe cough that can last weeks to months. The coughing fits can cause shortness of breath and lead to a “whoop” noise when a deep breath is taken after the coughing fit resolves.
Infants younger than one year of age have the highest risk of developing pertussis and its severe complications. About 25% of these infants will need to be hospitalized for care due to worsening disease and progression to pneumonia, a serious lung infection, seizures, and brain disorders.
What’s happening with pertussis?
The number of reported pertussis cases is increasing. Five times as many cases have been reported this year compared to last year.
How do I protect myself and my family from pertussis?
Vaccination is the best protection against pertussis. Pertussis vaccine (DTaP) is the recommended vaccine for infants and preschool age children, and adolescents and adults should stay up to date with pertussis vaccine boosters (Tdap).
Infants who get pertussis are at high risk of severe complications and death from pertussis, especially if they get pertussis before they are old enough to receive the vaccine. We can protect infants in several ways. First, parents, siblings,and other household contacts and caregivers should stay up to date with their pertussis booster vaccines. For pregnant women, the CDC recommends mom to receive Tdap during the early part of the third trimester of every pregnancy. This will protect the new infant from whooping cough during the first few months of age. The CDC provides guidance for the appropriate vaccines based on age and pregnancy status. pertussis-vacc-all.jpg (700×700) (cdc.gov)
What symptoms should I watch for?
Early symptoms of whooping cough include runny nose, low grade fever, and a mild cough. This may last 1–2 weeks and is when the infected person is most contagious. Over time the infected person will begin to have coughing fits. In older, high school age children, this cough may lead to shortness of breath followed by a “whoop” sound when taking a deep breath in. Struggling to breathe and cracked ribs may also occur. The illness may last up to 2–3 months. During the recovery phase, the coughing becomes milder and less frequent.
Are there treatment options for pertussis?
If you think you have pertussis, you should see your healthcare provider. To prevent spread to others, especially infants, It is important to wear a mask when you leave home and go to your provider’s office. Eliminating spread to others can be achieved with antibiotics, and if started early enough, antibiotics will also reduce symptoms and complications of pertussis.
At home, use a cool mist humidifier to loosen mucus and soothe the cough. Drink plenty of water and juice to help stay hydrated and eat small meals every few hours to help prevent vomiting.
If your child begins to cough violently, has pauses in breathing, or has any difficulty breathing, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Oxygen and other breathing treatments to help with breathing and keeping the lungs clear. Fluids may also be used to prevent or treat dehydration.