Halton Region Public Health: Office of the Medical Officer of Health
Quick facts
- In Ontario, there have been 1,016 cases of pertussis between January and September 2024. Most cases were among children. Halton Region Public Health investigated 10 cases between Aug. 27 and Sept. 24.
- Consider pertussis in your differential diagnosis in patients with a cough ending in a high-pitched whoop or vomiting, shortness of breath or exhaustion from coughing, or with a cough lasting two weeks or more.
- To facilitate timely testing, ensure Bordetella Nasopharyngeal swabs (external link) are readily available.
- Appropriate treatment includes macrolides or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as an alternative. Beta-lactams, including amoxicillin, are not effective against B. pertussis.
- All probable and confirmed cases of pertussis should be reported immediately to Halton Region by calling 311, 905-825-6000 or toll free at 1-866-442-5866.
Pertussis symptoms and treatment
- Pertussis is an acute infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis.
- Transmission is through contact with respiratory droplets and symptoms appear in three stages:
- First stage (1-2 weeks): symptoms are similar to those of the common cold - low grade fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, red and watery eyes, cough.
- Second stage (1-6 weeks or longer): coughing spells that end in a high-pitched whoop, or vomiting, shortness of breath or exhaustion from coughing so much.
- Final stage (1-2 months): coughing spells gradually occur less often and become less severe.
- Appropriate treatment includes macrolides (azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin) or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as an alternative. Beta-lactams, including amoxicillin, are not effective.
Diagnostic testing
- Suspect cases must be placed under droplet precautions, in addition to routine practices.
- Patients with symptoms consistent with pertussis should be tested within the first 3 weeks of illness using the Bordetella Pertussis Kit (external link) as it is the only acceptable transport medium for pertussis. Order appropriate specimen collection supplies, use the Public Health Ontario Laboratory (PHOL) Requisition for Specimen Containers and Supplies (external PDF). Refer to Bordetella - Respiratory - PCR | Public Health Ontario (external link) for additional testing details. Pertussis swabs have a three-month shelf life.