What is whooping cough (pertussis)?
Pertussis is a very contagious infection of the respiratory tract. It is also known as “whooping cough.”
Pertussis can affect people of all ages. However, infants (under one) and pregnant people (in their third trimester) are most vulnerable.
What are the symptoms?
You will usually develop symptoms within five to ten days of coming into contact with Pertussis. Sometimes symptoms do not develop for as long as three weeks.
Pertussis usually starts with cold-like symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, and low-grade fever) and a cough that gets worse over one to two weeks. You may experience severe, repeated, and forceful coughing spells that often end with a whooping sound.
Coughing attacks can last weeks to months, and they occur more often at night. The cough may make you gag or spit out mucous. It can be hard to take a breath. Young children may turn blue because the coughing interrupts their breathing.
If you suspect you may have pertussis, or have had a pertussis swab, please stay home from school, work, and avoid any large gatherings until test results are confirmed.
How does Pertussis spread?
Pertussis spreads through droplets in the air from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes. It can also spread through discharge from an infected person’s nose or throat.
If you have Pertussis
- If you have Pertussis, stay home from school/work, avoid public gatherings, and avoid contact with infants (under one) and pregnant people (in their third trimester).
- Antibiotics can prevent the spread of whooping cough. They are recommended for individuals diagnosed with the infection and close contacts who are considered high-risk. These include babies less than one year of age and pregnant people in their third trimester. They can contact their primary care provider or 811 to discuss options.
- If necessary, take acetaminophen (Tempra, Tylenol) for fever. Aspirin is not recommended.
- You can also protect yourselves and others in your community through good health habits such as cover, clean, contain – use a tissue or your arm to cover coughs and sneezes; clean your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer; and contain your illness by staying home when you are sick.
How long are people contagious?
Pertussis is contagious from its early stages – even before coughing starts.
You are no longer considered contagious after you have been treated with antibiotics for five days. If you do not take antibiotics, you are contagious for up to three weeks after coughing starts.
Vaccination
Vaccination is the best way to prevent pertussis.
Children
Children in Newfoundland and Labrador receive vaccines that protect against whooping cough as part of their routine childhood and school immunization schedules. Public Health recommends these vaccines at two months, four months, six months, 18 months, four to six years old, and in grade nine.
Public Health will be offering the Tdap vaccine to students in grades eight and nine in the 2024-25 school year.
Pregnant People
Public Health recommends the vaccine (known as Tdap) to pregnant people with each pregnancy. To learn more, visit our Tdap in Pregnancy page or contact public health.
Adults
Public Health recommends a booster dose of vaccine against whooping cough (Tdap) once in adulthood (unless you are pregnant. See above.)
It is especially important that you are up to date on your pertussis vaccine if you will be spending time around babies (under one). If you are expecting a new baby in your life, you can help protect them by getting the Tdap vaccine at least two weeks before meeting them.
Services related to this information:
- Immunization Records / Vaccine Appointments
If you need to access your immunization record and/or book an appointment, contact the following:
- Eastern Urban:
- Eastern Rural:
- Central, Labrador-Grenfell and Western Zones:
- Contact your local public health nursing office:
- If you are a contact of someone who has whooping cough, and Communicable Disease Control Nurse will call you and provide further direction.
- If you are not aware that you have been in contact with someone who has whooping cough, but are experiencing symptoms, please contact your primary care provider or 811.
- 811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555
