Pertussis
(Whooping Cough)

Did you know?

Whooping cough (also known as 100-day cough) is a highly contagious infection that causes uncontrollable coughing fits. This cough is dry and doesn't produce mucus, can last up to 1 minute, and may cause the face to turn red or even purple.

Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC) has recommended whooping cough vaccination for all pregnant mums¹.

Whooping cough can be deadly for newborns. There is a gap of protection for them as babies start their whooping cough vaccination only at 3 months of age. Getting vaccinated during your pregnancy can help to protect you and your little one² in early life from serious complications³.

Entire family should consider getting protected when a new arrival is brought home

Young infants infected with whooping cough are commonly passed on from family members. In a study paper, newborns get whooping cough infection from mothers (39%), fathers (16%), grandparents (5%), siblings (16-43%), and others (4-22%) such as caretakers².

Whooping cough affects people of all ages

It is not just a childhood disease. More than 40% of Pertussis cases are reported in adults and elderly⁴. Older adults with whooping cough face a greater risk than younger adults of experiencing pneumonia, fainting, urinary incontinence and hospitalisation⁵.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually develop within 5 to 10 days of being exposed⁶. The disease is known to cause uncontrollable, violent coughing fits, which often makes it hard to breathe. This cough can last for 4 to 8 weeks and can be worse at night^6,7. Older children and adults may only show mild symptoms with a cough that lasts for 12 weeks on average⁵.

How it spreads

Whooping cough spreads from person to person, usually by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others¹⁰. If infected persons are not treated early, they can infect others within the first three weeks of their illness¹¹.

Impact on health

It can be disruptive and distressing, affecting sufferers' existing medical conditions, daily life routines and natural sleeping patterns⁶. There is also an increased risk of death from pertussis amongst the elderly⁵.

Get protected

Vaccination at appropriate intervals can boost immunity from pertussis throughout life, to help you stay one step ahead.

As recommended by CDC, practising good hygiene can prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses. To practise good hygiene, you should:¹⁴

• When you feel a cough or sneeze coming, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue
• Dispose of used tissues in waste baskets
• If you don't have a tissue on hand, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands
• Good hand washing practices - wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub