Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Whooping cough is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis. It is an easily transmissible respiratory infection that may cause severe respiratory illness. Severe pertussis commonly affects infants, often resulting in hospitalisation (especially those aged under 6 months).
Whooping cough not only affects infants but is becoming increasingly common in adolescents and women of childbearing age.
When infected with pertussis, coughing may result in vomiting or gagging. Some infected persons make a 'whoop' sound when the person breathes in after coughing, giving the condition its name. Testing for whooping cough means those patients can start on treatment early and prevent the spread of the infection to others.
Symptoms
- Symptoms appear between 6 to 21 days (average 7-10) after exposure to an infected person.
- Pertussis usually starts with cold symptoms (runny nose, cough) followed by episodes of severe coughing that can last 1-2 months.
- Vomiting may occur after coughing spells.
- The person may look and feel healthy between coughing episodes.
- Immunized school children, adolescents and adults have milder symptoms than young children.
- Pertussis is spread to close contacts through droplets from the mouth and nose when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
- Persons treated with antibiotics are contagious until the first 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment have been completed.
- Unimmunized or inadequately immunized people are at higher risk for severe disease.
- Many cases occur in adults and older children because protection from the vaccine lasts only 5 to 10 years after the last dose.
- Pertussis vaccine is used to protect young infants from severe disease, but even vaccinated persons can get less severe pertussis infections.
Treatment
Antibiotics are used to treat and prevent the spread of pertussis bacteria to others.
Prevention
Pertussis vaccine is included in Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine
- Before age 7, children should get 5 doses of the DTaP vaccine
- These are usually given at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age and 4 - 6 years of age
- The 4th dose may be given as early as 12 months of age
People with pertussis should stay home and avoid close contact with others until 5 days of antibiotic treatment have been completed at which time they are no longer contagious.
If you live with or have close contact with someone who has pertussis you might need to take antibiotics to prevent infection. For more details speak with your health care provider.
| Medicare Rebate available: | Yes |
| Specimen Type required: | Nose / throat swab |
| Results available from your Doctor: | 2 - 3 days |