{"product_id":"whooping-cough-pertussis-english-full-he2939","title":"Whooping cough (pertussis) - information sheet - English (full) - HE2939","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhooping cough (also called pertussis) is a serious infection that makes it hard to breathe and causes a long coughing illness which spreads easily between people. Immunisation is the best way to protect you and your whānau against whooping cough – particularly during pregnancy, and for pēpi (babies), tamariki (children) and older adults who are at higher risk of getting very sick with this illness.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow does whooping cough spread\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhooping cough spreads easily between people by coughing and sneezing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA person with whooping cough is likely to be infectious from the week before they start coughing, when they have early cold-like symptoms, until 3 weeks after the cough begins. This is when they can spread whooping cough to other people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo help prevent illnesses like whooping cough from spreading, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, throw away used tissues and wash and dry your hands well afterwards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSigns and symptoms – what you can see and feel\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhooping cough makes it hard to breathe and causes severe coughing fits. The cough can go on for weeks or months which is why it is sometimes called the ‘100-day cough’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe symptoms of whooping cough usually appear around one week after you get infected. You are most infectious during the early stages of the illness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEarly symptoms are similar to a cold and include:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea blocked or runny nose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esneezing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea mild fever\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003edifficulty breathing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eongoing coughing fits.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter about 1 week, symptoms get worse and include:\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003euncontrollable coughing lasting a few minutes or causing vomiting and sometimes fainting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecoughing that may cause a ‘whoop’ sound between breaths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ea thick mucus that can make you vomit or choke\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ebabies may stop breathing or turn blue.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeeking health advice\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you think you or someone in your whānau or care has whooping cough, contact your GP or healthcare provider for advice urgently. They may want to arrange a test for you to see if you have whooping cough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you, your tamariki or those you care for have any of the following symptoms, this is an emergency - please call 111 and ask for an ambulance or go to your nearest hospital emergency department (ED). Symptoms include:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003efeeling very ill\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003efinding it hard to breathe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eturning blue or stopping breathing from coughing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhooping cough is very serious for pēpi, with many becoming so sick they need to go to hospital. In some cases, whooping cough can cause death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecial advice for parents and caregivers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhooping cough can be very serious for pēpi and tamariki, especially those aged under 12 months old. Around half of pēpi who catch whooping cough before the age of 12 months need to be cared for in hospital, and around 1 or 2 in every 100 of those in hospital die from the infection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany pēpi catch whooping cough from people they live with — sometimes before they are old enough to be immunised (under the age of 6 weeks).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf your pēpi, or a pēpi you care for, catches whooping cough, they may:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003enot be able to feed properly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003enot be able to breathe properly, may stop breathing or turn blue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ebecome so ill they need to go to hospital\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecould end up with serious health complications such as pneumonia or brain damage. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat happens if I get whooping cough?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have whooping cough:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eyou may be given antibiotics to take at home if you are diagnosed early — it is important you take the full amount prescribed to you to kill all the bacteria and lower the risk of you spreading the infection to others\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eyour healthcare provider will tell you how to care for yourself, your tamariki or those in your care, at home while you or they recover.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf whooping cough is diagnosed in the later stages of the infection, you might not be prescribed antibiotics. This is because you will no longer be infectious and the antibiotics will not improve your symptoms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter having whooping cough, it may take a very long time for you to recover – for some people it can be months before they feel back to normal. Although the cough eventually disappears after several weeks, you may experience coughing fits again if you suffer any later respiratory infection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYoung pēpi (less than 12 months old) with whooping cough may need hospital care. If your pēpi, or a pēpi in your care, needs to spend time in hospital, they are usually put in their own room. This is to stop the infection spreading to other patients.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrevention\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best protection for you and your whānau against whooping cough is to be up to date with their immunisations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDuring pregnancy:\u003c\/strong\u003e getting immunised for whooping cough while you are pregnant is safe and protects your pēpi from serious complications of this infection until they can have their own immunisations (from when they are 6 weeks old). This is because your immunity to whooping cough will pass on to your pēpi through the placenta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe whooping cough vaccine is FREE from 13 weeks of pregnancy, but it is best given from 16 weeks of pregnancy. The vaccine should also be given during \u003cstrong\u003eeach\u003c\/strong\u003e pregnancy to protect each pēpi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePēpi and Tamariki:\u003c\/strong\u003e whooping cough is particularly dangerous for pēpi — especially those who are not yet fully immunised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChildhood immunisations to protect against whooping cough are FREE for tamariki under 18. They are given at 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months, 4 years, and a further booster at age 11 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is important that tamariki are kept up to date with all of their immunisations to provide the best protection. But even if they have missed their immunisations, it is never too late to catch up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdults:\u003c\/strong\u003e are eligible for one FREE booster from age 45 if they have not had four previous tetanus containing vaccines (Aotearoa New Zealand has a combined pertussis and tetanus vaccine) earlier in their lifetime and they can get one FREE booster from age 65.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome people may be recommended to have a booster, for example if you have a newborn pēpi expected in the home, or you work with pēpi\/tamariki, but this may not be funded. Ask your healthcare provider if a booster is recommended for you and what this may cost. Many community pharmacies can offer these vaccines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are unsure if you or your tamariki have been immunised, contact your GP or healthcare provider to check if your family is fully protected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo book a vaccination appointment or for further information, talk to your GP or healthcare provider, call the Vaccination Healthline free on \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"0800 282 926\" href=\"Tel:%200800282926\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e0800 282 926\u003c\/a\u003e (8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday) or visit \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.healthnz.govt.nz\/health-topics\/immunisations\/booking-a-vaccine\"\u003eBook a vaccine\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFor more information:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisit the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.healthnz.govt.nz\/health-topics\/conditions-treatments\/infectious-diseases\/whooping-cough\"\u003eWhooping cough (pertussis)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFree NZ Relay Services are available at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/nzrelay.co.nz\/index\"\u003eNew Zealand Relay Services\u003c\/a\u003e if you are Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or have a speech impairment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCall Healthline on \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"call 0800 611 116\" href=\"Tel:0800611116\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e0800 611 116\u003c\/a\u003e, anytime 24\/7 for free health advice and information about what to do next. You can choose to speak with a Māori clinician if you are calling between 8am and 8pm. Interpreter services and NZ Relay support are also available.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor people living or visiting rurally, you can contact a doctor after hours at Ka Ora Telecare for free on 0800 2 KA ORA \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"call 0800 252 672\" href=\"Tel:0800252672\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e0800 252 672\u003c\/a\u003e or by visiting \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/kaora.co.nz\/app\/\"\u003eKa Ora Telecare\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA dedicated helpline for Disability support is available Monday to Friday, between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm. Call free on \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"call 0800 11 12 13\" href=\"Tel:0800111213\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e0800 11 12 13\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"text 8988\" href=\"SMS:8988\" target=\"_blank\"\u003etext 8988\u003c\/a\u003e for help and information or visit \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/healthpoint.co.nz\/disability-helpline\/\" title=\"Disability Helpline\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDisability Helpline\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"HealthEd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48754410455268,"sku":"HE2939","price":0.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0102\/6916\/3582\/files\/HE2939.png?v=1776401455","url":"https:\/\/healthed.govt.nz\/products\/whooping-cough-pertussis-english-full-he2939","provider":"HealthEd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}