Clinicians should be alert for signs and symptoms of pertussis, particularly in patients who have had contact with a confirmed case of pertussis.

Early detection and treatment can reduce the risk of transmission.

Who is most at risk?

• Babies who are too young to be vaccinated.
• Unvaccinated infants and children.

Clinicians should think pertussis in patients with:

• onset of runny nose, sneezing, tiredness, absent or low-grade fever
• dry cough that progresses to characteristic bouts of paroxysmal coughing.

Testing guidance and treatment

• <3 weeks from symptom onset – nasopharyngeal swab for PCR testing for both children and adults.
• Cases are no longer considered infectious after completing 5 days of a course of an appropriate antibiotic treatment, or if 3 weeks have passed since symptom onset.

Further information is available at Pertussis management and Pertussis | Therapeutic Guidelines

Prevention

• Vaccinate pregnant women in each pregnancy to protect babies.
• Vaccinate infants, children, and adolescents according to the National Immunisation Program schedule.
• Recommend booster doses for adults caring for infants and haven’t had a pertussis booster in the last 10 years.
• Early detection and treatment reduce transmission.
• Keep patients who are infectious at home.
• Identify and manage at risk contacts.

Further information

Metro North Public Health Unit can help with management of contacts when an infectious case of pertussis is identified.

For more information, access:

• Queensland Health's pertussis (whooping cough) fact sheet
• The Australian Immunisation Handbook, which provides clinical guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice
• Immunisation Schedule Queensland.