What is Pertussis?
Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. It is a disease that can be passed easily from one person to another. It is named after the “whoop” sound that you hear during or after a severe coughing spell. It can occur at any age, although mostly in children under 5 years. It is most serious in children under one year of age.
Pertussis may start with a cold or a runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough. These problems can last up to two weeks and you may see very bad coughing spells.
What are the symptoms?
- A “Whoop” sound is heard
- Trouble breathing (gasping or no breathing)
- Vomiting may occur
- Lips and nails may turn blue due to lack of oxygen
- Coughing attacks may last for many months
How can pertussis be treated?
- Pertussis is treated with antibiotics
- In children, whooping cough can become severe, so your child may need to stay in the hospital if the coughing causes trouble breathing
- People with close contact to the person with pertussis are also treated with antibiotics
What prevents pertussis?
- Vaccination is the best preventive measure for you and your child
- If you have never been vaccinated against Pertussis, you should get the vaccine as soon as possible.
- The vaccine that protects your child against Pertussis is called the DTaP vaccine and it is given in 5 doses:
- Age 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age and 4-6 years of age
- It is very important that your child receives all 5 doses for the most protection
Always call your care provider if you are experiencing the following symptoms.
- trouble breathing
- a cough that doesn’t go away
- a fever over 101 degrees