What is Pertussis?

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is named for the "whooping" sound made by small children who have the disease.

Pertussis is dangerous for very young children. More than half of infants under 1 year of age who contract the disease are hospitalized. About 10% of children with pertussis also develop pneumonia.

There has been a significant increase in the number of pertussis cases since the 1980s. In 2007 there were more than 10,000 cases including 10 deaths from pertussis nationally. Santa Rosa County has seen a dramatic increase in the number of pertussis cases in the past year compared to previous years.

Pertussis Symptoms:

• Runny nose

• Congestion

• Mild fever (under 102°F)

• Sneezing

• Vomiting

• Coughing (especially a bad cough lasting more than 2 weeks)

• Shortness of breath

Prevention

The best prevention is vaccination!

• Wash your hands often

.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes

.

• If possible, keep infants away from anyone who has cold symptoms or       is coughing.

How Do I Know if

I Have Pertussis?

Pertussis can start out with cold-like symptoms: runny nose, congestion, sneezing, and a mild cough or fever.  But after 1 or 2 weeks, the coughing persists and becomes severe, often causing coughing fits that lead to vomiting. 

At the earliest signs of a persistent cough (a cough lasting longer than two weeks), please see your doctor.  They can run tests to determine what is causing the cough and offer the correct treatment.

Vaccination Schedule

for Pertussis

How Does Pertussis Spread?
 

Pertussis is spread by an infected individual coughing or sneezing near others who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria. The vaccine for pertussis is not lasting as long as doctors originally thought, so even if someone has been fully vaccinated for pertussis as a child, they can still get the disease.  This is why many infants who get pertussis are infected by older siblings or parents who might not know they have the disease. 

What is the difference between DTaP & Tdap?

An upper case letter signifies a full dose; a lower case letter means the dose has been reduced.

DTaP  =  a full dose of Diphtheria,Tetanus,

              and acellular (contains only part of

              the bacterium) Pertussis

Tdap  =  a full dose of Tetanus and a reduced

             dose of diphtheria and acellular

             pertussis