What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious disease that is spread by coughing, sneezing, and direct contact with infected nose or mouth secretions such as sharing food or kissing.
What is the infectious period?
A person is infectious during the 'cold like symptoms' through to 5 days after starting antibiotics, or if left untreated for the first 3 weeks of coughing.
Symptoms
Whooping cough may start with a runny nose or sneezing (or cold like symptoms) and may develop into coughing bouts which can be very severe and frightening. In children, these coughing bouts may end with a crowing noise (the whoop) as the air is drawn back into the chest. Adults and older children may have mild disease but are still able to pass the infection to others including babies.
Young babies may hold their breath and may sometimes turn blue. Young children are especially at risk of severe illness, which may result in hospitalisation.
Adolescents and adults may just experience a persistent or prolonged cough, however the cough may be transmitted to younger susceptible children who are at risk.
Who is most at risk?
Whooping cough is most serious in babies who are under 6 months of age as they are not fully protected by vaccination. Most babies with whooping cough will have caught it from a parent or grandparent.
Babies may hold their breath and sometimes turn blue from lack of oxygen. Complications of pertussis in babies include pneumonia, fits and brain damage from prolonged lack of oxygen. Most hospitalisations and deaths occur in those under 6 months of age.
Any person who suspects that they have whooping cough should consult their local GP.
Immunisation
Parents should ensure their children are immunised as per the National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIPS). Immunisations are conducted at:
- Your local doctor;
- Logan City Council's Immunisation sessions; or
- Queensland Health - Child Health Clinics.
Immunisation is the best way to prevent whooping cough. A combination vaccine containing whooping cough is given at:
- 2 months (free);
- 4 months (free);
- 6 months (free);
- 4 years of age (free); and
- Students in year 10 at school (free).
Adult Immunisation
Protection of whooping cough from vaccination or disease in childhood in not life long and wanes with time. A booster vaccine in adults is needed to maintain protection. The adult whooping cough vaccine is a combination vaccine that provides protection against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus (dTpa). It is safe in the post natal period and while breast feeding.
(Whooping cough is most serious in babies who are under 6 months of age as they are not fully protected by vaccinations. Most babies with whooping cough will have caught it from a parent or grandparent.)
A whooping cough booster should be given to:
- Adults planning pregnancy;
- All new parents as soon as possible after the birth of their baby;
- Adults working with or caring for young children ie child care workers, health care workers;
- Grandparents; and
- Any adult who wishes to protect themselves.
An adult whooping cough booster is available to those who are not eligible at $33 per dose as per the National Immunisation Program. (No appointment or prescription is needed).
Adults should contact their local doctor to be immunised for a whooping cough booster.
More information
For more information about whooping cough or immunisation, please contact:
- Logan City Council's Immunisation Services on Ph: 3412 5318;
- Queensland Health's 13 HEALTH (Ph: 13 43 25 84) or
- Queensland Health's Brisbane South Population Health Unit Ph: 3000 9148; or
- Queensland Health's website: www.health.qld.gov.au