March 2011

Fact sheet helps GPs detect whooping cough

The Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit has produced a fact sheet to help GPs identify and treat cases of whooping cough sooner.

Diagnosis of whooping cough is often delayed as initial symptoms can be mild and the typical ‘whoop’ is not necessarily present – especially in adults or vaccinated children.

In Victoria, there has been a 500 per cent rise in the number of notified cases of whooping cough since 2005.

To combat the spread of whooping cough – or pertussis – GPs are being urged to think, test and treat whooping cough early.

The Could it be whooping cough? fact sheet has been provided to GP clinics across Victoria.

It gives health practitioners detailed information on early detection and treatment.

The fact sheet also can be found at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/577030/could_it_be_whooping_cough.pdf.

• For more information contact the Department of Health’s Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit on 1300 651 160.