The coughing can make it hard to breathe. A deep “whooping” sound is often heard when the person tries to take a breath.
Prevention
DTaP vaccination, one of the recommended childhood immunizations, protects children against pertussis infection. DTaP vaccine can be safely given to infants. Five DTaP vaccines are recommended. They are most often given to children at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years.
The TdaP vaccine should be given at age 11 or 12.
During a pertussis outbreak, unimmunized children under age 7 should not attend school or public gatherings. They should also be isolated from anyone known or suspected to be infected. This should last until 14 days after the last reported case.
It is also recommended that adults age 19 and older receive 1 dose of the TdaP vaccine against pertussis.
TdaP is especially important for health care professionals and anyone having close contact with a baby younger than 12 months old.
Pregnant women should get a dose of TdaP during every pregnancy between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, to protect the newborn from pertussis.
Causes
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an upper respiratory infection. It is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is a serious disease that can affect people of any age and cause permanent disability in infants, and even death.
When an infected person sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets containing the bacteria move through the air. The disease is easily spread from person to person.
The infection often lasts 6 weeks, but it can last as long as 10 weeks.
Symptoms
Initial symptoms are similar to the common cold. In most cases, they develop about a week after exposure to the bacteria.
Severe episodes of coughing start about 10 to 12 days later. In infants and young children, the coughing sometimes ends with a “whoop” noise. The sound is produced when the person tries to take a breath. The whoop noise is rare in infants under 6 months of age and in older children or adults.
Coughing spells may lead to vomiting or a short loss of consciousness. Pertussis should always be considered when vomiting occurs with coughing. In infants, choking spells and long pauses in breathing are common.
Other pertussis symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Slight fever, 102°F (38.9°C) or lower
- Diarrhea
Diagnosis
In older children, the outlook is most often very good. Infants have the highest risk for death, and need careful monitoring.
Treatment
If started early enough, antibiotics such as erythromycin can make the symptoms go away more quickly. Unfortunately, most people are diagnosed too late, when antibiotics aren’t very effective. However, the medicines can help reduce the person’s ability to spread the disease to others.
Infants younger than 18 months need constant supervision because their breathing may temporarily stop during coughing spells. Infants with severe cases should be hospitalized.
An oxygen tent with high humidity may be used.
Fluids may be given through a vein if coughing spells are severe enough to prevent the person from drinking enough fluids.
Sedatives (medicines to make you sleepy) may be prescribed for young children.
Cough mixtures, expectorants, and suppressants are most often not helpful. These medicines should NOT be used.
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