Q: What is Pertussis?
A: Whooping cough is the common name for Pertussis, a disease that affects the lungs. Pertussis bacteria are spread from person to person through the air.

A person with pertussis develops a severe cough that usually lasts for four to six weeks or longer. Pertussis can be very serious, especially in infants.

Q: What are the symptoms and complications of pertussis?
A: The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of a cold: sneezing, a runny nose, possibly a low-grade fever, and a cough. After one or two weeks, the cough becomes severe as noted by the following:

• The cough occurs in sudden, uncontrollable bursts where
  one cough follows the next without a break for breath.

• Many children will make a high-pitched whooping sound
  when breathing in after a coughing episode. Whooping is
  less common in infants and adults.

• During a coughing spell, the person may vomit.

• The person’s face or lips may look blue from lack of oxygen.

• The cough is often worse at night.

• Between coughing spells, the person seems well, but the
  illness is exhausting over time.

• Coughing episodes gradually become less frequent, but
  may continue for several months until the lungs heal.

The complications of pertussis include:

• Pertussis in infants is often severe, and infants are most
  likely to develop complications.

• The most common complication of pertussis is bacterial
  pneumonia.

• Rare complications include seizures, inflammation of the
  brain, and death.

Q: How is pertussis spread?
A: The bacteria is found in fluids from the mouth and nose of someone with pertussis. The bacteria is spread when fluid containing the bacteria gets in your nose, mouth or eyes. This can happen when a person with pertussis coughs or sneezes on you, or by touching the fluid and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. In general, a person is at greater risk of getting pertussis if they are within three feet of someone with pertussis for at least 10 hours a week, this is considered close contact.
The period between exposure to the bacteria and onset of illness is usually 7 to 10 days but may be as long as 21 days.

Q: How can pertussis be prevented?
A: The best way to prevent pertussis is to vaccinate all children on time.
Also, everyone should:

• Avoid close contact with others who are coughing
  or otherwise ill

• Wash their hands often

• Stay at home if ill

• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into their sleeve

• Seek medical attention if they develop pertussis-like
  symptoms or have been exposed to someone with pertussis

If you have pertussis, avoid infecting others. Stay at home and avoid close contact with others until you have taken antibiotics for at least five full days and are no longer infectious to others. Or, if you’re not taking antibiotics, stay at home for at least three weeks after your cough began.

For more information, contact Julie Pahlen, RN, at Roseau County Home Health Care by calling (218) 463-3211.