Transcript Pertussis “Whooping Cough”

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Highly contagious respiratory disease.
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Caused by the bacterium bordetella pertussis.
One positive case in a home = a 90% to 100%
chance other susceptible household members
will catch it!
Uncontrollable, violent coughing
Deep breathes after coughing “fits” result in a
"whooping" sound.
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A bacteria releases toxins in the lungs
 damages the cilia and causes inflammation (swelling).
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Usually spread by coughing or sneezing
Infants typically infected by older siblings,
parents or caregivers
Many adults think they just have a lingering
cough from a “cold”
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Usually develop within 7–10 days after exposure,
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May be as long as 6 weeks!!
Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and
usually include:
 Runny nose
 Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the
course of the disease)
 Mild, occasional cough
 Apnea — a pause in breathing (in infants)
 Most Infectious during this time!!
 Antibiotics may shorten the time of infectivity.
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Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed
by a high-pitched "whoop"
Vomiting (throwing up)
Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits
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Nasopharyngeal Swab:
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Small swab placed in nose
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Known as the “100 Day Cough”
Serious illness in children AND adults
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May be life threatening in infants
Worldwide: 30-50 Million cases of Pertussis and
about 300,000 deaths annually
More than half of infants less than 1 year of age are
hospitalized.
Vaccination:
 Prevents the spread
 Lessens the severity
 Childhood vaccine wanes
over time, after 5-10 years.
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57% must be hospitalized
1 in 4 (23%) get pneumonia (lung infection)
1 or 2 in 100 (1.6%) will have convulsions
(violent, uncontrolled shaking)
Two thirds (67%) will have apnea (slowed or
stopped breathing)
1 in 300 (0.4%) will have encephalopathy
(disease of the brain)
1 or 2 in 100 (1.6%) WILL DIE
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Washington State – Current Epidemic
 Approximately 2,900 cases this year
 Typically less than 2oo/yr
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North Carolina
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December to June - 179 cases, in 23 counties
Alamance County - 122 cases alone!
126 cases reported statewide in 2011.
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Infant with Pertussis:
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VACCINATION with Tdap!!
 Two or more weeks before coming into close contact
with an infant
 Families with and caregivers of new infants.
 Keep infants and high risk individuals away from those
who are infected.
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Any child 7–10 who did not complete the
childhood DTaP vaccination series
Anyone 11 and older who has not yet received a
Tdap booster
Adults should get a Tdap vaccine instead of the
regular tetanus booster
Women who are pregnant (3rd Trimester) or may
become pregnant
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DTaP series is recommended for children:
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2 months
4 months
6 months
15-18 months
4-6 years of age
Tdap booster should be given to children by 11
years of age
Thank You!
Tammra L Morrison, RN
Communicable Disease/Preparedness
Coordinator
Wilson County Health Department
252-237-3141