Pertussis warning

Time to talk about a cough that is NOT caused by coronaviruses! Have you heard of pertussis? It’s a bacterial infection and is sometimes called the 100-day cough or whooping cough. Pertussis is a contagious disease that normally occurs in low rates across Alberta, but the south a particular hot spot for this disease. In fact, south zone has been in a pertussis outbreak since January 24, 2023, which means that the disease has already been spreading more than usual in our area for months.

Sometimes pertussis just looks like a normal cold. The infection will often start with a runny nose, sneezing, low fever, and mild cough. One big difference from a common cold is that a pertussis cough can last for several months. One to two weeks following the first symptoms, people with pertussis infection may have rapid, violent, coughing fits that can last up to 10 weeks. The coughing fits make it difficult to breathe and can cause vomiting. Pertussis infections often cause pneumonia and serious cases can also lead to seizures, brain damage, and death.

Babies are at the highest risk for severe disease from this bacteria. According to the CDC, approximately one out of every three babies with pertussis will be hospitalized. Young babies may not develop a cough, but the infection can cause them to stop breathing and make their skin appear blue. The Canadian Pediatric Society suggests that one out of every 400 infants with the infection will die. Young infants are more likely to experience severe outcomes but cannot receive their first vaccination until two months of age. Because of this, it is recommended that pregnant women receive a pertussis vaccine in the third trimester of pregnancy. The vaccine creates a boost of antibody protection in the mother that passes to baby through the placenta and those babies are born with some protection from the disease.

You can help protect yourself and the people around you by getting your dTap vaccine, washing your hands, and by staying home if you feel sick, even if your symptoms are mild. You can visit immunizealberta.ca or talk to a Public Health Nurse for more information about vaccines. And if you think that you or your child may have pertussis, see a doctor right away because unlike viral illnesses, antibiotics are available to treat pertussis infections.

Jen Sturm is a Registered Nurse at Medicine Hat Community Health Services and can be reached at Jennifer.sturm@ahs.ca.