Pertussis
March 2009
What is pertussis?
Pertussis, or whooping cough,
is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella
pertussis. The infection can cause a prolonged cough. About 350
to 1000 cases are reported each year in Washington State. Information on
the number of cases reports each year is available at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/notify/nc/incidence/pertussis.pdf
How is pertussis spread?
Pertussis is spread mainly when
infected people cough or sneeze, expelling droplets that contain the bacteria.
Infants are often infected by older siblings or adults with mild or unrecognized
disease.
Who gets pertussis?
Pertussis can occur at any
age. Severe illness is more common in young children who have not been
immunized. Older children, adolescents or adults who have been immunized often
have milder symptoms. It is important to consider a diagnosis of pertussis in
older children, adolescents, and adults with persistent coughs so they do not
pass the infection to infants and young children.
What are the symptoms of pertussis?
Pertussis begins as a mild upper respiratory infection. Initially, symptoms
resemble those of a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever
and a mild cough. Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is
characterized by episodes of many rapid coughs followed by a crowing or high
pitched whoop. Thick, clear mucus may be discharged. These episodes may recur
for one to two months, and are more frequent at night.
Young
children who have not been immunized have the most severe symptoms. Infants
less than six months of age, adolescents and adults often do not have the
characteristic whoop. Therefore, a person with a cough that lasts more than a
week without improvement should see a health care provider to ensure the cough
is not due to pertussis.
Young infants are at highest
risk for complications. Complications include pneumonia, ear infection, loss of
appetite, brain disorders, and death. Adolescents and adults may also
experience complications such as pneumonia, trouble sleeping, urine leakage, and
broken ribs.
How soon after infection do symptoms appear?
Symptoms usually begin seven
to ten days after exposure but can appear in as few as five or as many as 21
days.
How is pertussis diagnosed?
Pertussis is diagnosed by
taking a swab from deep inside the nose. B. pertussis bacteria can be
grown from the swab or a genetic test can detect the presence of the bacteria.
How is pertussis treated?
Antibiotics are used to treat
pertussis. After five days of treatment, a person is no longer contagious even
if he or she is still coughing.
What can be done to prevent pertussis?
The best way to prevent
pertussis is to get vaccinated. A vaccine is available for both children
and adults. It is important to maintain a high level of immunization in a
community in order to prevent outbreaks. For details on
the pertussis vaccines, see:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/immunize/vaccine/dtap/default.htm
http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/immunize/vaccine/tdap/default.htm
People who are at high risk
for severe disease or have close contact with those at high risk for severe
disease are usually given antibiotics if they were in close contact with a
pertussis case.
People who have or may have pertussis should stay away from young children and
infants until properly treated.
For more information, contact:
Your local health
department (
www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm ) or
Communicable Disease Epidemiology at (206) 418-5500 or toll-free
877-539-4344.
Documents posted in .pdf version on the Department of Health Web site
will be made available in an alternative format on request to users who
are unable to download or view .pdf files on the Web.
To request an alternative
format, contact: Webmaster.
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