Pertussis
(Hundred-day cough/Whooping Cough)

DID YOU KNOW | SYMPTOMS | HOW IT SPREADS | IMPACT ON HEALTH | HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF?

Did you know?

Globally, there are an estimated 62,646 reported cases of pertussis in 2022.1

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis or 100-day cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Some people have mild symptoms and don’t know they have whooping cough, but they can still spread the bacteria that cause it to others.3 It can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for infants less than a year old.3

Symptoms

How it spreads

Despite a high prevalence of whooping cough, the incidence of pertussis for adults over the age of 50 is highly underreported.9,10 In fact, the reported incidence of pertussis in older adults may be largely underestimated by up to several 1000-folds.11

How it spreads

Infected individuals are most contagious up to about 2 weeks after the cough begins.5

Impact on health

Infected individuals may require hospitalization.6 Complications of whooping cough include:6

  • Pneumonia
  • Rib fractures
  • Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control)
  • Weight loss

How can I protect myself?

Who is at risk?

  • Babies & Adolescents7
  • Adults including the elderly if their last vaccination was at least 10 years ago12
  • Adults with COPD/ asthma8
  • Adults in close contact with infants aged <12 months12
  • Healthcare personnel with direct patient contact12

 

Vaccination

  • According to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most effective way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated and practice good hygiene.13
  • CDC recommends whooping cough vaccines for people of all ages.14
  • CDC recommends all women receive a single does of Tdap during the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy, preferably during the earlier part of this time period.7

 

 

Singaporeans can use Medisave to fund their Tdap vaccine. Patients with complex chronic conditions will be able to use up to $700 per patient yearly, while other patients will be able to use up to $500 per patient yearly.17

Please consult your healthcare professionals for more information on the disease.

 

Everyday Protection

Footnote:
All Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) who meet the criteria for vaccination under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS) and National Adult Immunisation Schedule (NAIS) are eligible for subsidies for nationally-recommeded vaccinations.15

References

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Pertussis reported cases and incidence: Reported Cases. Available at: https://immunizationdata.who.int/pages/incidence/PERTUSSIS.html?CODE=Global&YEAR= Last accessed: January 2024.
  2. CDC. Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  3. CDC. Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Fast Facts. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/fast-facts.html Last accessed : January 2024.
  4. CDC. Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Signs & Symptoms. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/signs-symptoms.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  5. CDC. Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Causes & How It Spreads. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/causes-transmission.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  6. CDC. Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Complications. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/complications.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  7. CDC. Pregnancy and Whooping Cough. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/deadly-disease-for-baby.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  8. CDC. Vaccine Information for Adults: Lung Disease including Asthma and Adult Vaccination. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/health-conditions/lung-disease.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  9. Masseria C, Krishnarajah G. BMC Infect Dis. 2015;15:534.
  10. Statens Serum Institut. Whooping cough - 2018 report on disease occurrence. Available at: https://en.ssi.dk/surveillance-and-preparedness/surveillance-in-denmark/annual-reports-on-disease-incidence/whooping-cough---2018-report-on-disease-occurrence. Last accessed: September 2022.
  11. Kandeil W, et al. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2019;18(5):439-455.
  12. SIDS. Handbook on adult vaccination in Singapore 2020. Available at: https://cfps.org.sg/assets/CPG/SIDS-Adult-Vaccine-Handbook-2020.pdf. Last accessed: September 2022.
  13. CDC. Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/prevention/index.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  14. CDC. Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccine Recommendations. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/dtap-tdap-td/hcp/recommendations.html. Last accessed: September 2022.
  15. MOH. Nationally Recommended Vaccines. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/nationally-recommended-vaccines Last accessed: September 2022.
  16. CDC. Pregnancy and Whooping Cough: Get Vaccinated while Pregnant. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/get-vaccinated.html Last accessed: September 2022.
  17. MOH. MediSave. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/cost-financing/healthcare-schemes-subsidies/medisave Last accessed: September 2022.

This is a disease awareness initiative by GSK for Singapore.

For further information, please consult your doctor.

©2024 GSK group of companies or its licensor

All images used in this material are for illustration purposes only.

NP-SG-PTU-WCNT-230001
Date of Approval: Feb 2024

GSK.com

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