Pertussis is a disease of the respiratory tract that makes it hard to clear mucus from the throat and lungs. It is also known as whooping cough because of the “whooping” sound that people make when trying to breathe for air after coughing. Bordetella pertussis, a bacteria found in the mouth, nose, and throat of infected people, causes this infection.
Pertussis spreads through respiratory droplets exchanged between people during conversations, coughing, or sneezing. It can spread by direct contact or through the air.
If not treated, even mild pertussis can spread for weeks after coughing starts.
Pertussis infections can happen at any time of the year.
Symptoms of pertussis
Symptoms of pertussis may start to show 7 to 10 days after exposure to the bacteria. In some instances, you can start experiencing symptoms as early as 5 days or as late as 21 days.
At first, it may seem like a common cold with:
- mild fever;
- runny nose;
- red, watery eyes; and
- a mild cough.
As it gets worse, the cough can become severe and last for weeks or even months. The coughing can make it hard to breathe. It can cause vomiting and may be followed by a “whooping” sound as the person tries to catch their breath.
Babies and young children may not cough. But they can have a serious condition called apnea, which causes pauses in breathing.
For older children and adults, symptoms might be milder, and the cough can last more than a week.
Without treatment, people with pertussis can spread the illness for up to 21 days after their symptoms begin.
Complications of pertussis
Severe cases of pertussis can cause:
- Pneumonia (a lung infection)
- Seizures
- Brain damage
These complications are more likely in babies and people who have not had all their vaccines.
Who is at risk?
Some people are more at risk of getting very sick from pertussis. These include:
- Babies under one year old, especially if they haven’t had their vaccines. Most pertussis deaths happen in children under six months.
- Pregnant people who have not been fully vaccinated.
For the best protection against pertussis, it is recommended that Yukoners complete the routine vaccination schedule as follows:
- Complete all immunizations in the routine childhood series
- A booster at 4 to 6 years;
- A booster in grade 9; and
- an adult booster shot after age 18.
Pregnant people should get the pertussis vaccine during every pregnancy, ideally at 27 weeks or later.
As of September 18, 2024, there have been 7 cases of pertussis in Yukon in 2024.
Diagnosis and treatment
If you think you or your child might have pertussis or were in contact with someone who has it:
- contact a health care provider as soon as possible;
Early treatment works better, so it’s important to act quickly.
To diagnose pertussis, a health care provider will:
- assess your symptoms; and
- may take a swab from your nose or throat and send it to the lab for pertussis testing.
If you have pertussis, your health care provider will likely prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. If you have been in close and prolonged contact with someone who has pertussis and at high risk of severe disease, your health care provider may also prescribe antibiotics for you.
Until you’ve taken antibiotics for at least five days, or it’s been 21 days since your symptoms began, you should:
- stay home from work, school and group activities; and
- avoid contact with babies, young children and pregnant people.