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Pertussis / whooping cough

A Canadian clinical summary of pertussis / whooping cough, with source-attributed priorities and explicit jurisdiction boundaries.

JurisdictionCanada
Source check2026-08-20
Clinical reviewiatroX editorial team 路 Clinical editorial review 路 reviewed 2026-08-20 路 due 2027-08-20
AudienceHealthcare professionals practising in Canada
This is an iatroX educational summary of named Canada sources, not an official guideline. It does not replace the complete source documents, local policy, specialist advice or clinical judgement. The evidence source is pan-Canadian, but formularies, funded access, referral routes, public-health directions and service availability remain provincial or territorial.

Source and scope

This summary is bounded to the recommendations, population and decisions covered by Whooping cough (pertussis): For health professionals. Apply it with the current provincial or territorial pathway where implementation differs.
sources for this section:PHAC pertussis

Source-attributed clinical priorities

  • Suspect pertussis from prolonged paroxysmal cough, whoop, post-tussive vomiting, apnea or an epidemiologic link.
  • Test and treat according to timing and the provincial communicable-disease protocol, prioritizing protection of vulnerable contacts.
  • Notify public health and review immunization because antimicrobial treatment does not replace vaccination or contact management.
  • Test and treatment value depends on cough duration, age, pregnancy and outbreak context.
sources for this section:PHAC pertussis

Practical assessment and management workflow

1
Ask about paroxysms, whoop, post-tussive vomiting, apnea, vaccination and vulnerable contacts.
2
Collect the PHAC-recommended respiratory specimen at the stage when nucleic-acid testing is useful.
3
Treat indicated cases and provide exposure management through public health.
4
Review infants and pregnant contacts promptly and complete required reporting.
sources for this section:PHAC pertussis

Safety, red flags and urgent escalation

  • Apnea, cyanosis, feeding difficulty or exhaustion in an infant needs hospital assessment.
  • Do not wait for a result before protecting a high-risk infant contact when prophylaxis is indicated.
  • Use droplet precautions and public-health exclusion advice during the infectious period.
sources for this section:PHAC pertussis

Confirm the local pathway before acting

The evidence source is pan-Canadian, but formularies, funded access, referral routes, public-health directions and service availability remain provincial or territorial.
sources for this section:PHAC pertussis

Source and implementation boundary

Read this educational summary with the linked source, current Canadian product information where medicines are involved, and the applicable provincial or territorial pathway. Local formularies, reporting duties, referral routes and service availability can differ.
sources for this section:PHAC pertussis

Source documents

Use the linked source documents for complete recommendations, evidence grading, exclusions and implementation detail.

  1. Public Health Agency of CanadaWhooping cough (pertussis): For health professionalsPage details 2026-05-13 路 accessed 2026-08-20
    view source
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