Pullman Public Schools

Pertussis ("Whooping Cough")

Multiple cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been reported in Whitman County residents. Spokane County is also seeing an increase in cases. Because pertussis is often mistaken for other respiratory illnesses in older children and adults, we want to provide you with information on this illness.

Pertussis is a contagious illness that begins with mild symptoms similar to the common cold, such as a runny nose and cough. The cough typically worsens over the next 2-3 weeks and tends to occur in spasms, or fits, that may be followed by a “whooping” sound. Coughing fits are sometimes followed by vomiting and are usually worse at night. Some people with pertussis, particularly older children and adults, may have mild symptoms and not realize they are sick or contagious.

In infants and young children, a cough may not be present and instead they may have trouble breathing and may gag, gasp, turn blue, or vomit. Pertussis can cause severe illness requiring hospitalization in infants and children under the age of one.

Pertussis is spread when ill people cough and sneeze near others, especially in close spaces over prolonged periods of time, such as within the same household. Symptoms usually appear within 7-10 days of exposure, but can be as long as three weeks. If your child develops a cough that occurs in fits and has a prolonged low-grade fever, or has other symptoms of respiratory distress, s/he should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

The best means of protecting children against pertussis is to keep their immunizations up-to-date. Immunity against pertussis decreases as children previously immunized get older. Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child’s immunizations are current.

Pertussis is treated with antibiotics. If treated, a person with pertussis can return to normal activities, such as school, work or sports, five days after treatment is begun. Although they may continue to cough for many weeks, they are no longer contagious. Without antibiotics, someone with pertussis is contagious for several weeks after coughing begins. It is important that ill students stay home while contagious.

If you have further questions, consult your healthcare provider.

Whitman County Health, December 20, 2024

We are continuing to see cases of pertussis in school age children in Whitman County. We want to take a minute to explain the notifications that will go out when a school has a confirmed case of pertussis.

A general letter of notification will go out to the entire school body alerting all students and staff there was a pertussis case confirmed in the school. It will recommend students and staff be on the alert for symptoms of pertussis, stay home when sick, and get tested by a healthcare provider if they are experiencing signs and symptoms of pertussis (listed in the letter). If you get this general notification letter, your child is not considered a close contact of a pertussis case and you do not need to seek treatment unless you develop symptoms consistent with pertussis.
When your child is part of a classroom or cohort with a confirmed case of pertussis you will receive a letter stating that your child was a “close contact” of pertussis. This is a higher level of exposure and comes with different recommendations. You are considered a close contact of someone with pertussis if:

If you choose to take your child who was a “close contact” to a healthcare provider before they have symptoms, the provider will assess the child and family’s risk for getting very sick with pertussis and may recommend antibiotics to prevent those at high risk for severe illness from getting sick. If a healthcare provider does not consider the situation high risk, a close contact may be asked to watch for symptoms and come in right away for testing and treatment only if symptoms develop. If your child who was a close contact develops symptoms of pertussis please stay home and seek care to rule out pertussis.

Please feel free to reach out to DiseasePrevention@whitmancounty.gov or call (509) 332-6752 during normal business hour with questions.

A public health announcement about a whooping cough outbreak, urging people to get their Tdap shot. The image features illustrations of people of different ages and backgrounds.

Pertussis Facts

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes a severe cough.
- Symptoms appear 6 to 21 (average 7-10) days after exposure to an infected person.
- Pertussis may start with cold symptoms or simply a dry cough followed by episodes of severe coughing. Fever is absent or mild.
- Gagging or vomiting may occur after severe coughing spells. Cough may be worse at night.
- The person may look and feel healthy between coughing episodes.
- Immunized school children, adolescents, and adults often have milder illness than young children.
- Infants with pertussis may not develop a severe cough. They may only have a mild cough, decreased feeding, and may have difficulty breathing or turn bluish.
Pertussis is spread through droplets from the mouth and nose when a person with pertussis coughs, sneezes, or talks.
- Untreated, persons with pertussis can spread the infection for several weeks.
- Adults and older children with unrecognized pertussis often spread the infection to others, including young children.
- Tab 2
Anyone who is exposed to the bacteria can get pertussis.
- Pertussis vaccine prevents severe disease in young infants, but even a vaccinated person can get pertussis infection.
- Pertussis occurs in older children and adults because protection from the vaccine (DTP or DTaP) lasts only 5-10 years after the last dose.
- Infants less than one year old are considered at high risk for complications of pertussis, including hospitalization, pneumonia, convulsions, and rarely, brain damage or death.
- Unimmunized or partly immunized children are also at higher risk for pertussis infection and severe disease.
- Pregnant women with pertussis near the time of delivery may spread it to their newborns.
- Persons who have close contact with pregnant women, infants, or health care workers can spread pertussis to these high risk individuals.
- Health care workers with pertussis who have face-to-face patient contact can spread pertussis to their patients and other health care staff.
Treatment is most effective early in the disease. A health care provider must prescribe an antibiotic active against pertussis.
- Persons treated with antibiotics are no longer contagious after the first 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment have been completed.
- Pertussis vaccine is included in DTaP and Tdap vaccine for adolescents and adults (available since 2006).
  - Before age 7, children should get 5 doses of the DTaP vaccine.
  - Doses are usually given at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age and 4 - 6 years of age.
  - The 4th dose may be given as early as 12 months of age.
  - Tdap should be given as a single booster dose to 11-64 year old individuals.
- Persons with cough illnesses should avoid contact with infants and expectant mothers, including visiting or working in labor, delivery, and nursery areas of hospitals and in child care settings.
- If you live or have close contact with someone who has pertussis, you should take antibiotics to prevent pertussis – contact your health care provider.