Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is highly contagious and most harmful to infants and children. Most children get pertussis from adults and not from other children. Children can get pneumonia and in rare cases, can die from pertussis (especially in children less than one year of age).
Symptoms usually occur in two stages. The first stage begins like a cold, with a runny nose, sneezing, and a low-grade fever. The second stage includes uncontrolled coughing spells. The second stage can last 6-10 weeks. It is very contagious during the early stages of the illness and becomes less contagious by the end of three weeks. Antibiotics can shorten the contagious period.
Information for the General Public
Information for Public Health Departments
- Disease Plan
- Case Report Form
- Immunization Action Coalition
- Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Information for Childcare Facilities & Schools
Information for Clinicians
- Best Practices on the Use of PCR for Diagnosing Pertussis
- Specimen Collection
- Recommended Antimicrobial Therapy and Chemoprophylaxis
Educational Materials
Resources
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- HealthyChildren.org
- Mayo Clinic
- MedLine Plus
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – Vaccine Education Center
- Utah Immunization Program
Statistics