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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. It is caused by Bordetella pertussis, a bacteria (germ) found in the mouth, nose and throat of the infected person.
Pertussis infections can happen any time of the year and anyone can get it, but it is most dangerous for babies under one year old, especially if they have not started or completed their vaccinations.
Pertussis spreads from respiratory droplets when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes or talks.
An infected person can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for at least two weeks after coughing begins.
A person is usually no longer infectious after five days of effective antibiotic treatment.
Symptoms may start nine to 10 days after being exposed but can start anywhere from six to 20 days after exposure.
Pertussis infection starts like a common cold, with mild fever, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a mild cough. It can then turn into serious coughing fits that last weeks or even months. The coughing fits may cause difficulty breathing, choking and vomiting. Some babies may not cough at all but have apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing) instead.
Severe complications may include pneumonia (infection of the lungs), seizures and damage to the brain. Babies under one year of age with pertussis are at highest risk of getting very sick and often need to be hospitalized. Almost all deaths from pertussis happen in children who are under six months of age.
For older children and adults, symptoms may be less severe. They may appear as cold-like symptoms with a cough that lasts longer than a week.
Getting vaccinated against pertussis is safe and the best way to protect yourself and your child(ren) against the disease. Pertussis vaccination is a part of Ontario’s Publicly Funded Routine Immunization Schedule.
If you or your child misses a vaccine or are due for your next dose, these vaccines are available from a health care provider’s office or at a TPH community vaccine clinic for school-aged children.
If you or your child(ren) were in close contact with someone with pertussis, watch for symptoms for 20 days after your last contact with that person.
Getting the pertussis vaccine after being exposed will not prevent you from getting pertussis but can provide protection against getting an infection in the future.
If you think you or your child may have pertussis, it is important to:
People diagnosed with pertussis or suspected of having it should stay home from childcare, school or work. They should not participate in group activities, have visitors and should avoid contact with babies, young children, and people who are pregnant until five days of antibiotic treatment have been completed or 21 days after the start of symptoms.
A health care provider can make a diagnosis using laboratory test results and by assessing your symptoms. The test is done by a swab collected through the nose and sent to the lab for pertussis testing.
A person with pertussis is usually given an antibiotic medication. People who may have been in close contact with someone who has pertussis may also be given an antibiotic. This includes people living in the same house and other vulnerable close contacts (e.g. infants and pregnant individuals).
Pertussis is a disease of public health significance and must be reported to Toronto Public Health by schools and child care centres and health care providers.
Call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 (TTY at 416-392-0658) or speak to your health care provider. You can also call 811 to connect to a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice.