What You Need to Know About Pertussis/Whooping Cough
MA has seen a recent uptick in this highly contagious respiratory disease. Read below for info on prevention, and visit the CDC website to learn more.
HOW IT SPREADS: The bacteria that cause whooping cough spread easily from person to person through the air. People can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for at least 2 weeks after coughing begins.
SYMPTOMS: Whooping cough appears similar to a common cold early on, and 1-2 weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, known as coughing fits. These coughing fits usually last 1 to 6 weeks but can last for up to 10 weeks. The symptoms of Whooping Cough are usually just uncomfortable for most people but can be dangerous for vulnerable groups like babies and the elderly. Even healthy adults can have complications.
PREVENTION: Whooping Cough may be prevented by vaccination and the CDC recommends a vaccine for everyone. Click here to see when you should get a vaccine or a booster. All adults should get a vaccine every 10 years, including pregnant women in the early part of the 3rd trimester. Practicing good hygiene and keeping distance if you are ill can help prevent spread.
TREATMENT: Antibiotics work best BEFORE coughing starts, so those who think they may have been exposed are often given preventive antibiotics. Those with an active diagnosis are usually given antibiotics as well but not if it's been more than three weeks with symptoms, as the illness is usually gone by then. Symptoms can linger much longer due to damage to the airway but are no longer contagious.
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