Alberta Health Services
Health Information
You can ask for an interpreter if you don’t speak or read English well or use sign language. They can help you:
For interpreter services, call Health Link at 811 and press 1. Tell them the language you need.
Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is an infection of the airways and lungs caused by bacteria. It used to be called the 100-day cough, because the coughing can last for months.
Pertussis can cause:
In rare cases, pertussis can lead to seizures, brain injury and death.
Learn more about pertussis.
Babies are at the highest risk of getting very sick from pertussis. In Canada, 1 to 4 people with pertussis die each year.
These deaths are most often in babies who are too young to be immunized or children who are not fully immunized.
Pertussis spreads easily by coughing, sneezing, or having contact with someone who has pertussis. You can also get pertussis if you touch objects, like toys, that someone with pertussis has touched, and then you touch your eyes or nose.
Symptoms include a mild fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes. The cough gets worse over time and may last for weeks or months. A coughing fit can cause choking, vomiting, and trouble eating, drinking, and breathing.
Very young babies may not cough, but the infection can cause them to stop breathing.
The coughing from pertussis can be so intense that a “whooping” sound happens when you try to catch your breath.
If you think you or your child has pertussis, stay home and call your healthcare provider or Health Link at 811 before seeking medical care.
If you or your child is having trouble breathing, call 911 or go to an emergency department.
It’s important for people with confirmed pertussis to stay home until they have finished 5 days of treatment with the right antibiotics.
Find tips to care for your child at home if they have pertussis.
Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics (medicines that fight bacteria). If your healthcare provider prescribed antibiotics, use them as directed.
Learn more about how pertussis can be diagnosed and treated.
There are several vaccines that protect against pertussis. It's combined with other vaccines that protect against other diseases:
Getting immunized for pertussis is safe and effective at preventing severe illness. In Alberta, it’s free of charge for all children less than age 18 years, people who are in the third trimester of pregnancy, and adults who have not had a tetanus booster in the past 10 years.
Getting the Tdap vaccine protects you and your baby from pertussis while you are pregnant. The protection you get from the vaccine also crosses the placenta to protect your baby during their first few months of life.
The Tdap vaccine is safe to get during pregnancy for both you and your baby. The Tdap vaccine is usually given between 27 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, because this is the best time to give immunity to your baby. If you are outside of this time, talk to your healthcare provider about when to get your Tdap vaccine.
If you live in the same home as someone who is pregnant, you can also protect the new baby by getting the Tdap vaccine and making sure you are up to date with all your recommended vaccines.
Learn more about immunization and pregnancy.
Immunization is the best way to protect against pertussis and stop it from spreading, along with regular hand washing and not sharing drinks, food, or cutlery.
