Final answer:
Individuals who have been exposed to pertussis should be treated with antibiotics or vaccines, depending on their infection status.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recommended treatment for individuals who have been exposed to pertussis is antibiotics. Antibiotics such as erythromycin or tetracycline can be effective in reducing the rate of transmission when given early in the infection or prophylactically to uninfected individuals.
Vaccines are also an important approach in controlling pertussis. The DPT vaccine, now replaced by the DTaP and Tdap vaccines, can provide protection against pertussis.
No treatment is necessary for individuals who have not been infected with pertussis.