Pertussis is highly contagious illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Early symptoms are very similar to the common cold. One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms (coughing fits). The cough generally gets worse and becomes more common as the illness continues and can cause people to vomit or make a “whoop” sound when breathing in.
Coughing fits may continue for several weeks or even months. Many infants with pertussis may not have coughing fits; instead, they may gag, gasp, vomit, stop breathing, or turn blue. The best way to prevent pertussis is to get vaccinated. The specifics of the vaccine recommendations can be found here. However, immunized children and adults can still get pertussis, so a history of immunization should not preclude a pertussis diagnosis. Immunized children, adolescents and adults may not present with the classic “whoop” symptom.
Pertussis can cause serious and potentially life-threatening complications in infants and young children who are not fully immunized. Infants under one year old are at greatest risk for serious disease and death because their immune systems are still developing. About a third of babies younger than 12 months old with pertussis need treatment in a hospital. Early recognition of cases, effective treatment and prophylaxis, and appropriate vaccination are vital to limiting the spread of pertussis.
