Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

The disease usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever.  Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within 5 to 10 days after being exposed, but sometimes as long as 3 weeks later.

Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:

• Runny nose
• Low-grade fever
• Mild, occasional cough (may be minimal or absent in infants)
• Apnea – a pause in the breathing pattern (in infants)

Because pertussis in its early stages may look like the common cold, it often is not suspected or diagnosed until the more severe (later-stage) symptoms appear.

Later-stage symptoms

After 1–2 weeks and as the disease progresses, the “traditional” symptoms of pertussis may appear, including:

• Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop”
• Vomiting during or after coughing fits
• Exhaustion after coughing fits

Although persons are often exhausted after coughing fits, they may appear fairly well in-between. Coughing fits generally become more frequent and severe as the illness continues, and can occur more often at night. The coughing fits can continue for up to 10 weeks or more.

The infection is generally milder in teens and adults, especially those who have been vaccinated.

Like other respiratory illnesses, pertussis is spread by coughing and sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria.

Persons with pertussis are infectious from the beginning of the early symptoms through the third week after the onset of coughing, or until 5 days after the start of effective antibiotic treatment.

Pertussis is diagnosed by a combination of symptoms, signs, physical examination, and laboratory tests. People with symptoms of pertussis or who have been exposed to someone with pertussis should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

Pertussis is generally treated with antibiotics. Early treatment of pertussis is very important. Treatment may make the infection less serious if it is started early, before coughing fits begin, and may help prevent the spread of pertussis to close contacts.

Treatment after three weeks of illness is unlikely to help, even though the person still has symptoms.

Persons who have been in close contact with someone with pertussis (such as household members), especially those at high risk for developing severe disease, should also receive antibiotics after exposure to try to prevent getting or spreading the disease.  Close contacts should receive antibiotics regardless of their age and vaccination status.

Pertussis can sometimes be very serious, requiring treatment in the hospital. Infants are at greatest risk for serious complications from pertussis.