Algoma Public Health
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
What is it?
- A very contagious (easy to catch) disease of the respiratory tract, caused by bacteria found in the nose and throat of a person who is infected
- Young infants are at highest risk and have the most serious complications
What are the symptoms?
- Starts with a mild occasional cough which last 1-2 weeks (early stage)
- Progresses to violent coughing spells which can last 1-2 months or longer
- Coughing spells begin very abruptly and often end with vomiting.
- A high pitched whoop sound may be heard with the next breath of air
Contact Us!
Sault Ste. Marie: 705-942-4646
Blind River: 705-356-2551
Elliot Lake: 705-848-2314
Wawa: 705-856-720
How quickly do symptoms develop?
- Usually within 9-10 days, can range from 6-20 days after contact
How is it spread?
- It is spread when a person with pertussis coughs or sneezes the germ into the air, where other people can breathe it in
How long is it contagious?
- Very contagious in the early stage and for 3 weeks after coughing spells develop
- No longer contagious after 5 days of treatment; child may return to school or daycare
How is it treated?
- With a prescribed antibiotic medication
- The medication shortens the period of contagiousness but does not stop the cough unless given in the early stage of the disease
What can you do?
- To protect yourself and your child against whooping cough, ensure that all are up to date with pertussis immunization
- If you live with or spend more than one hour in closed spaces with someone confirmed to have pertussis, you should contact your primary care provider to consider preventive antibiotics if you are:
- less than 1 years of age; Or
- in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Last Modified: Oct 13, 2023