Pertussis: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pertussis?
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious, bacterial disease marked by severe coughing. It is named after the "whoop" sound children and adults make when they try to breathe in during or after a severe coughing spell.
Source: www.randolphcountyhealth.org
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is extremely contagious. Before widespread immunization, virtually all children contracted whooping cough. Small children get the sickest while adults appear only to have a bad cold. In recent years 4,200 cases of pertussis have been officially reported. Pertussis is the common cause for undiagnosed chronic cough in adults and older children. ...
Source: www.monheit.com
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a disease that affects the lungs. Pertussis bacteria are spread from person to person through the air. A person with pertussis develops a severe cough that usually lasts four to six weeks or longer. Pertussis can be very serious, especially in infants. Click on the following link to view a comparative study of Influenza vs. Cold vs. Pertussis: http://www.wchd.org/files/Influenza vs. Cold vs. Pertussis.pdf
Source: www.wchd.org
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious and potentially deadly bacterial infection that can strike at any age but is particularly dangerous for babies. The sounds of pertussis are like no other, marked by a “whoop” made when babies are gasping for breath after a severe coughing attack.
Source: www.pkids.org
Is there a vaccine for pertussis?
Yes. There are two pertussis vaccines (DTaP and Tdap). Both vaccines are given in combination with tetanus and diphtheria. Your age determines which vaccine you should receive. DTaP vaccine is given to children up to 7 years of age. Children should receive shots at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age, and at 4 to 6 years of age. Tdap vaccine can be given to persons 10 through 64 years of age. Adolescents 11-12 years of age should receive Tdap instead of Td (tetanus/diphtheria) before they start middle school. ...
Source: www.wchd.org
How is pertussis spread?
The bacteria are found in fluids from the mouth and nose of someone with pertussis. The bacteria are spread when fluid containing the bacteria gets in your nose or mouth. This can happen when a person with pertussis coughs or sneezes on you, or by touching the fluid and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. In general, a person is at greater risk of getting pertussis if they are within three feet of someone with pertussis for at least 10 hours a week, this is considered close contact . ...
Source: www.wchd.org
Pertussis is usually spread by contact with an infected person's nose or throat secretions. This can happen by touching an infected person's nose or throat drainage, or it can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Source: www.wvdhhr.org
What are the symptoms of pertussis?
The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to a cold: sneezing, a runny nose, possibly a low-grade fever, and a cough. After one or two weeks, the cough becomes severe as noted by the following: The cough occurs in sudden, uncontrollable bursts where one cough follows the next without a break for breath. Many children will make a high-pitched whooping sound when breathing in after a coughing episode. Whooping is less common in infants and adults. During a coughing spell, the person may vomit. ...
Source: www.wchd.org
Pertussis can be divided into 3 stages: During the first stage, symptoms are similar to having a cold. There may be a slight fever, sneezing, runny nose, dry cough, loss of appetite, and irritability. During the second stage (about 1 to 2 weeks later), the cough becomes more intense. There may be short, intense coughing spells followed by a long gasp for air (this is when the "whoop" is heard). The face may turn blue, the nose may bleed, and vomiting may occur following a coughing spell. ...
Source: www.wvdhhr.org
Is there a lab test for pertussis?
Yes. To test for pertussis, the nasal passages are swabbed. Material on the swab is then examined in the lab for the presence of pertussis bacteria.
Source: www.wchd.org
Who gets pertussis?
Anyone of any age can get pertussis. Teenagers and adults account for more than half of reported cases. Cases in school-aged children continue to increase. Older children and adults usually have less severe illness, but they can still spread the disease to infants and young children.
Source: www.wchd.org
Most pertussis cases are among adults and teens; however the disease is easily spread unknowingly and is most dangerous for babies. An estimated 90% of unvaccinated children living with someone who has pertussis will get the disease. 7
Source: www.pkids.org
Can pertussis be treated?
Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics, but treatment may not cure the symptoms. However, antibiotics will reduce the spread of disease to others. Antibiotics lessen the symptoms if given during the early stages of illness. When antibiotics are started later in the illness, the damage from pertussis is already done and the cough will last until the lungs heal. Pertussis bacteria die off naturally after three weeks of coughing. If antibiotics are not started within that time, they are no longer recommended. ...
Source: www.wchd.org
What are the complications of pertussis?
Pertussis in infants is often severe, and infants are more likely than older children or adults to develop complications. The most common complication of pertussis is bacterial pneumonia. Rare complications include seizures, inflammation of the brain, and death.
Source: www.wchd.org
What is Pertussis or Whooping Cough?
Pertussis is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is a very distressing condition, which may cause serious trouble in the lungs and more severe complications. The disease appears to have no distinct seasonal pattern, but may increase during summer and fall.
Source: www.erie.gov
How is pertussis treated?
Antibiotics are given to make the illness less contagious, but they do not reduce the symptoms unless given very early in
Source: www.wvdhhr.org
Pertussis is usually treated with antibiotics.
Source: www.pkids.org
How can pertussis be prevented?
Be sure that children are up to date on their shots, especially the diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP) series. Persons who have been in very close contact with a person with pertussis should take medication to prevent
Source: www.wvdhhr.org
Vaccinate all children on time. This is the best way to prevent pertussis. Also, everyone should: Avoid close contact with others who are coughing or otherwise ill Wash their hands often Stay at home if ill Cover their cough with a tissue or cough into their sleeve Seek medical attention if they develop pertussis-like symptoms or have been exposed to someone with pertussis If you have pertussis, avoid infecting others. ...
Source: www.wchd.org
Is pertussis reporting on the rise in the U.S.?
An increasing number of cases of pertussis have been reported to the CDC since the 1980s. The increases are greatest among adolescents (aged 10-19 years), but an increase is also seen among infants younger than 5 months old. The reported increases may reflect greater awareness of pertussis to some degree. Even with the increase in reports among adolescents and very young infants, the number of reported cases is more than 97 % lower than in the pre-vaccine era.
Source: www.cdc.gov
IS THERE A VACCINE FOR WHOOPING COUGH (PERTUSSIS)?
A Yes. The CDC recommends children receive 5 doses of pertussis vaccine between the ages of 2 months and 6 years. One booster dose is also given at age 11 before child enters 6th grade. One booster dose is also recommended for adults.
Why is pertussis dangerous?
Pertussis can be a serious illness, particularly for babies and young children. More than half of babies with pertussis must be hospitalized. 1 Coughing can be so severe that it is hard for babies to eat, drink or breathe. 2 Babies may bleed behind the eyes and in the brain from coughing. 3 The most common complication is bacterial pneumonia. 4 About 1 child in 10 with pertussis also gets pneumonia, and about 1 in every 50 will have convulsions. Brain damage occurs in 1 out of every 250 people who get pertussis. ...
Source: www.pkids.org
What causes pertussis?
Pertussis is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis , 11 found in the mouth, nose and throat. 12
Source: www.pkids.org
How common is pertussis?
Pertussis is the only infectious disease for which children are routinely immunized that is on the rise. In 2004 more than 25,000 cases were reported, up from 1,010 in 1976. Often mistaken for a cold, pertussis is frequently misdiagnosed and underreported. The actual number of cases each year may be close to one million. 10
Source: www.pkids.org
What causes pertussis or whooping cough?
Pertussis or Whooping cough is highly contagious, caused by rod-shaped bacilli, Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella Para-pertussis. Of these, the first one gives rise to more severe infections. It is also associated with various adenoviruses, Para-influenza and respiratory viruses.
Source: www.erie.gov
How is whooping cough or pertussis spread?
It spreads rapidly from one person to another through droplets emitted by coughing (both direct and airborne droplets of respiratory secretions) This is especially so during the catarrhal stage and the first two weeks of the paroxysmal stage (approx. 21 days).
Source: www.erie.gov
What is pertussis, and what are the risks of the disease?
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a very contagious disease of
Source: stason.org
Are there laboratory tests for the diagnosis of pertussis?
Yes, there are two lab tests that can be used. One is a bacterial culture and the other is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The specimen used for both is a nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate. More information is available in the Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, ( www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/surv-manual/chpt08_pertussis.pdf ).
Source: www.cdc.gov
What is the recommended immunization schedule to prevent pertussis with DTaP?
DTaP (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis) vaccine is recommended for all infants at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. An additional dose of DTaP vaccine is recommended at 15-18 months of age and at 4-6 years of age. It is important that young infants start their DTaP vaccination without delay at 2 months of age. ...
Source: www.cdc.gov
How many cases of pertussis are reported in the United States?
An average of more than 160,000 cases and more than 5,000 deaths were reported every year in the 1920s-30s. At its peak during this period, the annual number of case-reports was more than 250,000 with up to 9,000 deaths. In the 1940s, whole-cell pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DTP) was introduced, and case-reports of pertussis decreased more than 99% by 1976, when the number of reported cases reached a record-low of 1,010 cases.
Source: www.cdc.gov
