Pertussis is usually a disease of children although it can occur at any age. Most reported cases occur in children under 5 years old. Pertussis is primarily spread by direct contact with the mucus or saliva of an infected person, or it can be spread by airborne droplets. Early symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, fever, and cough - symptoms similar to a common cold. These coughing fits usually last from 1-6 weeks.
Pertussis can cause serious illness, especially in young infants.
Symptoms usually appear 5-10 days after exposure to an infected person. A person is contagious from 7 days after exposure to 3 weeks after the appearance of coughing fits. Infection usually produces a lasting immunity but, occasionally, a person will get pertussis for a second time. Complications of pertussis can include pneumonia, ear infections, seizures, problems of the nervous system and brain, and death. The vaccine for pertussis is usually given in combination with diphtheria and tetanus.