Case Likely Represents More in the Area
A case of pertussis (whooping cough) was diagnosed this week in a child enrolled in the Methow Valley School District. The case was reported to Okanogan County Public Health, which sent a health warning to all parents with children in the MVSD on Friday warning there are likely more cases in the area.
Whooping cough begins 5-10 days after contact with the bacteria that causes it but can begin up to three weeks later. Early symptoms resemble a cold: runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and a mild fever. After two weeks, the body has uncontrollable coughing fits (paroxysms) that lead to difficulty breathing between coughs. These symptoms may last 1-2 months as the respiratory track fights the pertussis bacteria and its toxin. Symptoms can be worse at night.
In his letter to parents, James Wallace, MD, MPH, Health Officer for the Okanogan County Public Health District (OCPHD), recommends seeking medical care for these symptoms. The pertussis vaccine reduces severe complications and the spread of the illness but does not provide immunity, according to Wallace.
Treatment for pertussis is a 5-day course of an antibiotic called azithromycin or “Z-Pak,” although other antibiotics can be prescribed. Antibiotics are also used as a preventative measure in households where there is a confirmed or suspected case of pertussis. Avoiding public places until treatment is completed or one is no longer contagious is a must, according to Wallace.
People who take antibiotics can be in public places five days after they start treatment and should complete the course of treatment. Without treatment, pertussis is contagious from the onset of symptoms until at least 21 days after the start of coughing fits. People who are exposed to pertussis but do not have symptoms do not need to avoid other people or public places, according to Wallace.
Pertussis is most severe in infants and young children, leading to a 50% hospitalization rate. Because their immune symptoms are still developing, infants under one year of age have the highest reported rate of pertussis, according to the CDC. Wallace said OCPHD has received a higher number of reported cases than usual so far this year.
Pertussis was a common childhood disease and a major cause of childhood mortality in the U.S. before the first vaccine was developed in 1948. More than 200,000 cases were reported annually in the U.S. Administration of the vaccine by public health programs reduced infections 90% each succeeding year but pertussis has seen an uptick since the 1980s with a peak in 2012. The pertussis vaccine is available for children at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 15 months, a booster at age 11 years, once in adulthood, and with each pregnancy.
Additional information about pertussis can be found here:
Washington State Department of Health Pertussis (Whooping Cough) webpage
Washington State Department of Health Pertussis Alert to Healthcare webpage
