Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Pertussis is a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough and has also been called “the 100- day cough”. Bordetella pertussis bacteria cause illness by attaching to the cilia of the upper respiratory system and releasing toxins. The toxins damage the cilia and cause airways to swell.

Symptoms

Pertussis coughing fits can cause people to: 

• Make a high-pitched "whoop" when they inhale after a coughing fit
• Vomit during or after coughing fits 
• Feel very tired after the fit, but usually seem well in-between fits 
• Have difficulty sleeping at night 
• Struggle to breathe 
• Fracture (break) a rib

Risk factors

Age and underlying medical conditions can increase someone's risk for getting a severe case of whooping cough. It's especially important to prevent these people from getting sick. 

Babies younger than 1 year old are at greatest risk for getting whooping cough and having severe complications from it.

People with pre-existing health conditions that may be worsened by whooping cough are at high risk for developing a severe infection. Some conditions that could be made worse by whooping cough include, but are not limited to:

• Immunocompromising conditions
• Moderate to severe medically treated asthma

How it spreads

The bacteria that cause whooping cough spread easily from person to person through the air. When a person with whooping cough sneezes or coughs, they release small particles with the bacteria in them. Other people can then breathe in the bacteria.

These bacteria can spread when people spend a lot of time together or share breathing space.

For more information and guidance on Whooping Cough, visit the Center for Disease Control's website