Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Evelyn Wong advises the community that cases of Pertussis, or Whooping Cough, are increasing in Victoria, and particularly amongst school-aged children.
A highly contagious respiratory illness, Pertussis is known for causing a cough, symptoms of which may be indistinguishable from other respiratory infections, especially in its early stages.
Pertussis usually begins with cold-like symptoms, such as a dry cough, tiredness, runny nose, and low-grade fever, which may last for 1-2 weeks.
A more definitive cough may then develop, lasting for 10 weeks or more.
The cough comes in long spells and may be followed by a high-pitched “whooping” sound on inhalation, or vomiting in toddlers and older children.
Babies under 6 months may have pauses in breathing, turn blue, experience feeding difficulties, gasping, or choking instead of a cough.
In adolescents and adults, pertussis may present as a non-specific protracted cough.
It can lead to life threatening infections in babies and Pertussis vaccination for infants and pregnant women (between 20-32 weeks) is strongly recommended to reduce the risk of infection and complications.
Prompt diagnosis, isolation and treatment can help reduce transmission and protect vulnerable infants, with older children and adults also at risk of contracting Pertussis and potentially passing it on to infants.