Pertussis is a contagious illness caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is also called whooping cough. It makes people cough a lot and can be serious for people of all ages but is especially dangerous for babies.
People At High Risk
- All household contacts of a pertussis case.
- High risk people within 21 days of exposure to an infectious pertussis case.
- Infants and women in their third trimester of pregnancy.
- All people with pre-existing health conditions that may worsen by a pertussis infection.
- People who have close contact with people who are at high risk.
- All people in high risk settings that include infants under 12 months of age or women in the third trimester of pregnancy.
How It Spreads
Pertussis spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing tiny droplets in the air. Breathing in these droplets can make others sick. It also spreads when people spend a lot of time together or share breathing space, like when you hold a newborn on your chest. People can spread the bacteria from the start of the very first symptoms and for at least 2 weeks after coughing begins.
Symptoms
Symptoms of whooping cough usually develop within 5 to 10 days after coming into contact with the bacteria that causes it. Sometimes symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks, which can result in a misdiagnosis. Some people with whooping cough may develop rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits. These coughing fits usually last 1 to 6 weeks but can last for up to 10 weeks.
Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:
- Runny or stuffed-up nose
- Low-grade fever (less than 100.4°F)
- Mild, occasional cough (babies do not do this)
- Apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing) and cyanosis (turning blue or purple) in babies and young children
Coughing fits can cause people to:
- Make a high-pitched “whoop” sound when they are finally able to inhale at the end of a coughing fit
- Vomit during or after coughing fits
- Feel very tired after the fit, but usually seem well in-between fits
- Struggle to breathe
Prevention and Immunity
Vaccination is the best way to prevent pertussis. It is given in childhood and helps the body build immunity. Immunity can decrease over time, so booster shots are important for teens and adults. Babies and children younger than 7 years old receive DTaP, while older children and adults receive Tdap.
In vaccinated people who get whooping cough:
- The cough usually won’t last as many days
- Coughing fits, whooping, and vomiting after coughing fits are less common
- Apnea and cyanosis are less common (in vaccinated babies and children)
Treatment
If someone gets pertussis, antibiotics can help make the illness less serious as well as prevent the spread to others, especially if given early. It is important to see a healthcare provider right away to get treatment if someone has pertussis. Rest and fluids are important too. Severe cases may need hospital care. People who do not get antibiotics will be contagious for 21 days while getting the antibiotic will reduce being contagious to 5 days.
Starting treatment after three weeks of illness is unlikely to help even though most people will still have symptoms. By then, your body has gotten rid of the bacteria, but the symptoms are still there due to the damage already done to your body.
Providers
Pertussis is a Notifiable Condition.
Healthcare providers in Chelan and Douglas counties, contact the Chelan-Douglas Health District at 509-886-6400 within 24 hours if you have a suspected or confirmed Pertussis case. We will guide you through the testing and shipping process.
- Health care providers and Health care facilities: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours
- Laboratories: notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours; submission required – isolate, within 2 business days; submission on request – if no isolate available, specimen associated with positive result, within 2 business days.
- Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) within 7 days of case investigation completion or summary information required within 21 days
Schools
School Staff/Nurse Responsibility
- Reporting cases to your local health jurisdiction is mandatory and should be immediate.
- Make referral to licensed health care provider of suspected case for diagnosis and treatment.
- Maintain and support confidentiality for the student.
Control Spread At Home
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Throw away used tissues in the wastebasket right away.
- Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow if you do not have a tissue. Never cough into your hands because you can spread germs this way.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Reduce exposure to people with whooping cough. · Make sure rooms are well ventilated.
- Wear a mask if you have symptoms.
- Do not send your child to school if the child has a fever, vomiting, or other symptoms like cough, sore throat, sneezing, or runny nose that prevent them from participating in activities and require extra care.
- Please avoid school, work, and public settings if you have any symptoms.
- Make an appointment with your child’s doctor as soon as possible and tell the doctor that your child may have been exposed to whooping cough.
Parents and Families
Whooping cough is a serious disease that can be deadly for babies. Unfortunately, babies do not start building their own protection against whooping cough until they are vaccinated at two months old. This leaves babies unprotected in the first months of life when they are at highest risk of getting very sick if they get whooping cough.
Women can give their babies protection against whooping cough (pertussis) before their little ones are even born. Talk to your doctor or midwife about getting a whooping cough vaccine (called Tdap) during your third trimester of pregnancy.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all women receive Tdap during the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy, preferably during the earlier part of this time period. Getting Tdap between 27 through 36 weeks of pregnancy lowers the risk of whooping cough in babies younger than 2 months old by 78%.
