Pertussis Fact Book

• What Is It?
• Symptoms
• Potential Complications
• How Is It Spread?
• Who Gets It?
• Treatment
• Keeping on Top of Your Condition

What is it?

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes coughing and gagging with little or no fever. An infected person has cough episodes that may end in vomiting or cause a "whoop" sound when the person tries to breathe in.

Symptoms

• Symptoms appear between 6 to 21 days (average 7-10) after exposure to the bacteria.
• The disease starts with cold symptoms: runny nose and cough. Sometime in the first 2 weeks, episodes of severe cough develop and that can last 1 to 2 months. The person may look and feel fairly healthy between these episodes.
• During bouts of cough, the lips and nails may turn blue for lack of air. Vomiting may occur after severe coughing spells.
• During the severe coughing stage, seizures or even death can occur, particularly in an infant.
• Immunized school children and adults have milder symptoms than young children.

Potential Complications

• Pertussis is most dangerous to children less than 1 year old. Complications for infants include pneumonia, convulsions, and in rare cases brain damage or death.
• Serious complications are less likely in older children and adults.

How Is It Spread?

• Pertussis is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
• The greatest risk of spread is during the early stage when it appears to be a cold.
• Those treated with antibiotics are contagious until the first 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment have been completed.

Who Gets It?

• Anyone who is exposed can get pertussis.
• Unimmunized or inadequately immunized people are at higher risk for severe disease.
• Many cases occur in adults because protection from the vaccine lasts only 5 to 10 years after the last dose.

Treatment

• The vaccination against pertussis is included in the DTP and DTaP vaccines. Before age 7, children should get 5 doses of the DTP or DTaP vaccine. These are usually given at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months* of age and 4 - 6 years of age. *This 4^th dose may be given as early as 12 months of age.
• Persons with pertussis should avoid contact with others until no longer contagious.
• Take your full course of antibiotic treatment.
• If you live with someone who has pertussis or are in the same child care classroom with someone who has had pertussis, you should take preventive antibiotics.

Keeping in tune with your disease or condition not only makes treatment less intimidating but also increases its chance of success, and has been shown to lower a patients risk of complications. As well, as an informed patient, you are better able to discuss your condition and treatment options with your physician.

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