Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an infection that often causes severe, uncontrollable coughing fits with a sharp inhale of breath that sounds like whoop.
Whooping cough can infect anyone at any time of the year. It spreads quickly between members of the same household, or between children at daycare or school.
Infants under age 1 are at higher risk of severe infection. Antibiotic treatment is available for everyone, and vaccination is recommended.
Whooping cough can spread quickly through respiratory droplets (snot and phlegm) when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The germ that causes whooping cough can sometimes spread through objects and surfaces that are touched by someone who is infected. But this is less common.
Whooping cough can easily spread among people living in the same household, or among children who go to the same daycare or school.
If you have close contact with someone who is infected with whooping cough, you may develop symptoms 5 to 21 days after your interaction.
If you’re diagnosed with whooping cough, take the antibiotics that are prescribed to you.
A person infected with whooping cough is contagious and can spread it to other people:
Infants under age 1 are at the highest risk of severe complications outcomes if they develop whooping cough. That’s because infants under age 1 haven’t yet received all doses of routine whooping cough vaccination and aren’t fully protected.
Pregnant women who develop whooping cough in their 3rd trimester are at risk of passing the infection to their baby after it’s born. This risk is higher in the last 4 weeks before delivery.
Other people who develop whooping cough should consult at the clinic for medical treatment, even if the risk of complications is lower.
A whooping cough infection starts with these symptoms, which may feel like a cold:
After 7 to 14 days, if the cough becomes more severe, frequent, and constant, and sounds like whoop, it’s time to consult at the CMC or hospital.
A nurse or doctor will help diagnose your situation and recommend antibiotics. If you have symptoms, wear a mask when you go to the clinic or hospital.
Whooping cough can only be diagnosed by a healthcare provider, either a nurse or doctor. They’ll check the symptoms and do laboratory tests.
If you or your child has a bad, persistent cough, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider to get the right information about what’s going on.
If you’re diagnosed with whooping cough, take the antibiotics that are prescribed. In the first 5 days of your antibiotic treatment, limit your contact with infants, children, and pregnant women in their last trimester.
Antibiotic treatment helps decrease the risk of spreading the disease. It also lessens symptoms. Taking all the prescribed antibiotics is important even if you are starting to feel better.
People in your household will be offered antibiotic treatment as a protective measure.
If you or your child are sick, stay home from work and school if possible.
Inform your other close contacts about your infection. They can take steps to protect themselves by asking to get a whooping cough vaccine.
If you think you have whooping cough, and don’t choose to seek medical attention, try to limit close contact with other people until your cough clears up.
Vaccination for whooping cough is available, safe, and effective to protect children and adults from infection. Talk to a nurse or doctor at your CMC or hospital about your options.
Recommendations:
If you have regular and ongoing contact with infants 1 and younger, or pregnant women, it’s important to get vaccinated or boosted for whooping cough. Boosters are recommended at least 2 weeks before being in contact with an infant.
Side effects:
The pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine is very safe and effective. Side effects are usually local skin reactions and mild fever and may last a few days.
In Quebec, pertussis (whooping cough) infections are a mandatory reportable disease by law. This means laboratory staff and health professionals must notify Public Health authorities when they diagnose a case.
Mandatory reportable diseases (known as MADO) include infections with a risk of spreading to others and causing serious health problems.
The CBHSSJB’s infectious diseases team receives MADO reports. They identify and notify close contacts. They also assess the need for preventive treatment (antibiotics, vaccination).
The Public Health Department at the Cree Health Board also collects data about mandatory reportable diseases to better understand the frequency of infections in Eeyou Istchee.
This helps identify potential outbreaks and possible risk factors that make some people more vulnerable to infection.
