The earlier a person starts treatment for pertussis the better. If treatment is started early in the course of illness, during the first 1 to 2 weeks before coughing paroxysms (multiple,rapid coughs) occur, symptoms may be lessened.
Patients with pertussis are infectious from the beginning of the catarrhal stage (runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, symptoms of the common cold) through the 3rd week after the onset of paroxysms (multiple, rapid coughs) or until 5 days after the start of effective antimicrobial treatment. Treat patients aged >1 year within 3 weeks of cough onset and infants aged <1 year within 6 weeks of cough onset. The recommended antimicrobial agents for treatment of pertussis are azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin.
If started early enough, antibiotics such as erythromycin can make the symptoms go away more quickly. Unfortunately, most patients are diagnosed too late, when antibiotics aren't very effective. However, the medicines can help reduce the patient's ability to spread the disease to others.
Infants younger than 18 months need constant supervision because their breathing may temporarily stop during coughing spells. Infants with severe cases should be hospitalized.
An oxygen tent with high humidity may be used.
Fluids may be given through a vein if coughing spells are severe enough to prevent the person from drinking enough fluids.
Sedatives (medicines to make you sleepy) may be prescribed for young children.
Cough mixtures, expectorants, and suppressants are usually not helpful and should NOT be used.
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