Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
What is pertussis?
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial illness that causes a cough lasting several weeks to months. In New York City, from 2008-2010, there has been an average of 107 cases of pertussis per year reported to the Health Department.
Who gets pertussis?
Pertussis is usually a disease of children although it can occur at any age. In New York City, from 2008-2010, 50% of pertussis cases were aged less than 5 years.
How is pertussis spread?
Pertussis is primarily spread when a person coughs or sneezes, by direct contact with the mucus or saliva of an infected person, or it can be spread by droplets.
What are the symptoms of pertussis?
Early symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, fever, and cough - symptoms similar to a common cold. About 1-2 weeks later, the cough worsens and patients develop bursts or rapid coughing (paroxsyms) followed by a high-pitched "whoop". These coughing fits usually last from 1-6 weeks. Pertussis can cause serious illness, including pneumonia, and death in young infants.
How soon after infection do symptoms appear?
Symptoms usually appear 7-10 days after exposure to an infected person, but can be as long as 21 days or even up to 6 weeks.
When and for how long is a person able to spread pertussis?
A person is contagious for up to 3 weeks after the onset of coughing fits or until 5 days after appropriate antibiotic treatment has begun. People are most contagious during the early, "cold-like" stage.
Does past infection with pertussis make a person immune?
Infection usually produces a lasting immunity but, occasionally, a person will get pertussis for a second time.
What are the complications associated with pertussis?
Complications of pertussis are most common in young infants and can include pneumonia, ear infections, seizures, problems of the nervous system and brain, and death.
What is the vaccine for pertussis?
The vaccine for pertussis is usually given in combination with diphtheria and tetanus. There are two vaccines to protect against pertussis: 1 for children <7 years of age (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine or DTaP) and the second for persons aged 7 years and older (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine or Tdap). The primary series should be given at 2, 4, and 6 months, a fourth dose should be given between 15 -18 months of age, and a fifth booster dose prior to school entry between 4 – 6 years of age. If a 7-10 year old child has not received all of the recommended DTaP vaccine doses, a dose of Tdap should be given before the 11-12 year old checkup.
Adolescents attending 6th through 10th grades are required to receive a Tdap booster dose for school entry.
Adults should also receive the Tdap vaccine; it is especially important for those in close contact with infants <12 months of age such as parents, caregivers, and health care personnel. Tdap vaccine should be administered to unvaccinated women who are pregnant, preferably during the late second or third trimester (after 20 weeks gestation). If not administered during pregnancy, Tdap should be administered immediately postpartum
What can be done to prevent the spread of pertussis?
The single most effective control measure is maintaining the highest possible vaccination levels in the community. Treatment of patients with certain antibiotics, such as a macrolide (erythromycin or azithromycin) , can shorten the time they are contagious. People who have pertussis should stay away from young children and infants until they have been treated. People in close contact with a person with pertussis may require antibiotics (post-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent them from becoming ill and spreading the disease.
For more information on where your child can be vaccinated, call 311.
