An adult may not develop as severe a disease as children, but can still spread the infection to children and other adults. Inadequately immunized household contacts less than 7 years old should be excluded from school, daycare or gatherings for 14 days after the last exposure or until the case and contacts have received 5 days of antibiotics. Know the signs of pertussis. If a case is identified in your child's day nursery or school, watch your child for symptoms. If no treatment is taken, your child must be excluded for three weeks.
Adults also get pertussis.
It may be pertussis. Antibiotics can be taken to help stop the spread of the infection. If a child or adult has pertussis, all household contacts will need to start on a 10-day course of antibiotics. This may help to stop others from developing the disease or make the disease less severe and will ensure that these people do not spread the infection to others. In day nurseries, children and adults who come in contact with someone with pertussis will need to take antibiotics for 10 days.