Summary
- There has been an increase in pertussis cases.
- Ensure patients are up to date with vaccination, and treat confirmed cases and high risk contacts with antibiotics.
Metro South Health has seen an increase in confirmed pertussis cases since early August, particularly among young children and school-aged children and teenagers.
Consider pertussis in patients with a cough lasting more than 2 weeks, alongside features such as paroxysmal coughing, an inspiratory whoop or post-tussive vomiting.
If pertussis is suspected, collect a posterior nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate sample for PCR testing. Serology is generally not helpful.
Treat confirmed cases with antibiotics as soon as possible where the cough has been present for 3 weeks or less.
Antibiotics help to reduce transmission to others.
Cases should be isolated until no longer infectious, typically either 21 days after the onset of any cough, or until they have taken 5 days of an appropriate antibiotic.
Post-exposure antibiotic prophylaxis is usually indicated for the following high risk contacts and their households:
- children under 6 months old
- people in the last month of pregnancy
- people who regularly encounter these groups.
Please ensure your patients are up to date with pertussis vaccination, particularly children, pregnant women, people in regular contact with high-risk groups, and adults over 65 years old.
Contact Metro South Public Health Unit for advice.