Health Department Investigates Whooping Cough Cases in Northwest Public Health Region

July 19, 2003

Little Rock — The Arkansas Department of Health is investigating several recent cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in Baxter County.  Health Department colleagues are working closely with medical providers to stem the transmission of further disease in the community.

Keys in controlling the spread of disease are to ensure vaccination of children and to treat cases and their close contacts with appropriate antibiotics.  Children routinely should receive four doses of a vaccine (DTaP) by 15 months of age and an additional dose of DTaP before they start school.  Those diagnosed with pertussis should stay at their home until after the fifth day of antibiotic treatment to prevent the spread of the disease.  Anyone having close contact with a person with this disease should contact his or her local health department or their family physician.  All close contacts need preventive treatment but may continue routine activities if they have none of the symptoms described below.

Whooping cough can be a very serious illness, particularly for infants less than one year of age.  The disease is spread by direct contact with discharge from the nose and throat of an infected individual.  The illness begins with symptoms similar to a common cold.  Young children usually later develop coughing “episodes,” usually 15 to 20 times a day.  The high-pitched “whoop” for which the illness is named occurs when they try to catch their breath between coughs.  Vomiting may follow a coughing episode.  Adults usually have milder symptoms.  Those with coughing symptoms or who think they may have been exposed should be evaluated by their doctor.

The protection from disease provided by the vaccine decreases over time, leaving adolescents and adults vulnerable to infection.  Throughout the U.S., more pertussis in teens and adults is being recognized and small outbreaks are not unusual.

Physicians in the above-mentioned county have been alerted to watch for increase coughing illnesses in their patients. 

The Health Department will issue further health advisories as necessary.

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Pertussis Fact Sheet

What is pertussis?

Who gets pertussis?

Pertussis can occur at any age.  Adults and adolescents have recently been recognized as a major source of pertussis, accounting for as many as 25% of reported cases.  The rest of the cases are in children less than 5 years of age. Approximately 35% of reported cases currently occur in infants younger than 6 months.

How is pertussis spread?

Pertussis is primarily spread by direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat of infected individuals.  Frequently, older siblings who may be harboring the bacteria in their nose and throat can bring the disease home and infect an infant in the household.

What are the symptoms of pertussis?

Pertussis begins as a mild upper respiratory infection.  Initially, symptoms resemble those of a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and mild cough.  Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by episodes of numerous rapid coughs followed by a crowing or high-pitched whoop.  A thick, clear mucous may be discharged.  These episodes may recur for one to two months, and are more frequent at night.

How soon after infection do symptoms appear?

The incubation period is 6-20 days, usually 7-10 days.

When and for how long is a person able to spread pertussis?

A person can transmit pertussis from seven days following exposure to three weeks after the onset of coughing episodes.  The period of communicability is reduced to 5 days when antibiotic therapy is begun.

What can be done to prevent the spread of pertussis? 

The single most effective control measure is maintaining the highest possible level of immunization in the community.  Close contacts younger than 7 years who are unimmunized or who have received fewer than four doses of pertussis vaccine should have pertussis immunization initiated or continued, according to the recommended schedule.  Treatment with erythromycin can shorten the contagious period of cases as well as protect close contacts.  Any persons who have been in contact with an infected individual should see their physician if they develop respiratory symptoms for 14 days after the last contact with the infected individual.