Risks of Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Get some basic information about pertussis, and what risks it might pose in a ten-year-old.
Q
My ten-year-old son was diagnosed with Pertussis. He received all of his vaccinations as a child. Can you tell me about the risk of Pertussis in ten-year-olds? How long does it typically last? What are the major signs that it is improving?
A
Pertussis, which is also known as whooping cough, is caused by a bacteria. It causes respiratory symptoms, usually starting out with runny nose and congestion that lasts for approximately a week or so, and then subsequently a two to four week period where there is a harsh, frequent cough. After this, there is another stage in which the cough starts to improve and the person gets better.

Pertussis is a problem primarily in infants because they can get severe spasms of coughing where they don't get enough oxygen, and they can also get pneumonia or seizures as a complication. In adults Pertussis is usually just a mild illness that feels like a bad cold; however, the adults are certainly contagious and can give it to young children if they aren't protected.

In this country most children do get immunized for Pertussis. However, the last dose of the Pertussis vaccine is standardly given at age of four or five when children are entering kindergarten. For most people, that immunity to Pertussis generally goes away by the time they are about eight-ten years of age. We don't continue to immunize older children and adults for Pertussis, primarily because it doesn't cause significant illness in older children and adults.

There is very little risk of any type of serious illness in an otherwise healthy ten-year-old child. It would be rare for a ten-year-old to develop pneumonia or any other difficulties from a Pertussis infection. We give antibiotics to children who we know have Pertussis primarily in order to prevent them from spreading it to other people. The antibiotics won't really shorten the length of the illness, unless they are started right at the very beginning, and it will still take a couple of weeks for it to resolve.

Shari Nethersole is a physician at Children's Hospital, Boston, and an instructor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She graduated from Yale University and Harvard Medical School, and did her internship and residency at Children's Hospital, Boston. As a pediatrician, she tries to work with parents to identify and address their concerns.

Please note: This "Expert Advice" area of FamilyEducation.com should be used for general information purposes only. Advice given here is not intended to provide a basis for action in particular circumstances without consideration by a competent professional. Before using this Expert Advice area, please review our General and Medical Disclaimers.