How is pertussis contracted

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is very contagious and mainly affects infants and young children. Whooping cough is caused by a bacterium called B ordetella pertussis. The illness is characterized by coughing spells that end with a characteristic "whoop" as air is inhaled. Whooping cough caused thousands of deaths in the s and s. With the advent of a vaccine, the death rate has declined dramatically. Pertussis vaccines are very effective. However, if pertussis is circulating in the community, there is a possibility that even a fully vaccinated person could catch the disease.

Babies who are too young to receive the vaccine are also at very high risk of catching pertussis. The illness can be very serious, even sometimes fatal, in young infants. Many babies infected with pertussis have caught it from an adult. The disease starts like the common cold, with a runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and sometimes a mild cough or fever. Usually, after a week or two, severe coughing begins.

It comes in five doses, which are given at the following ages :. The Tdap vaccine is given to preteens, teens, and adults as a booster.

What happens if you or your child has been exposed to whooping cough? If you believe that you or your child has been exposed to whooping cough, contact your doctor. They may recommend a course of antibiotics to protect against or lessen the symptoms of an infection.

The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of the common cold and typically include:. These symptoms gradually worsen over a week or two and coughing spells develop. These coughing spells can include a large number of rapid, hard coughs.

You or your child may also experience vomiting after severe coughing spells. Not all people develop the coughing fits and their accompanying whoop. Infants may appear to be struggling for breath or gasping for air. They may also temporarily stop breathing after a severe spell. This is called apnea. Adults may just develop a persistent, hacking cough. Whooping cough can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages due to its similarity to other respiratory infections like the common cold.

Accessed Nov. Kasper DL, et al. Pertussis and other Bordatella infections. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. New York, N. Cornia P, et al.

Pertussis infection in adolescents and adults: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis. Yeh S. Pertussis infection in infants and children: Clinical features and diagnosis. Pertussis infection in infants and children: Treatment and prevention. Tdap Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis vaccine information statements. Postexposure antimicrobial prophylaxis. Steckelberg JM expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Initially, symptoms resemble those of a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough.

Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterised by episodes of numerous rapid coughs, followed by a crowing or high-pitched whoop. These episodes frequently end with the expulsion of a thick, clear mucous, often followed by vomiting. They initially occur at night and then become more frequent during the day and may recur for one to two months.

In young infants the typical 'whoop' may never develop, and the coughing fits may be followed by brief periods when breathing stops. After this phase, the coughing fits become less frequent and less severe, and the infant gradually gets better although this can take up to three months. Adolescents, adults, or partially immunised children generally have milder or atypical symptoms, so in these groups, in addition to very young infants, pertussis might be more difficult to diagnose.

Supportive care following hospital admission is especially important for very young infants or older children with severe disease. Antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice for pertussis. However, in order to be effective, treatment must begin early in the course of disease, preferably within two weeks of onset.

Antibiotic treatment can eradicate the bacteria from the nose and throat and limits the risk of it being passed on to others. Complications of pertussis include pneumonia, middle ear infection, loss of appetite, dehydration, seizures, brain disorders, hernias, rib fractures, rectal prolapse, episodes of cessation of breathing. Severe cases can lead to death.

Fatalities caused by pertussis are most common in young infants, who die due to pneumonia or due to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain. Deaths are recorded every year in Europe, often are among infants who were too young to have been fully vaccinated. Less than one child in every thousand will die due to pertussis, however in many instances pertussis is not recognised as the cause of death, so it is possible that pertussis is responsible for a higher number of deaths than actually recorded.