Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Whooping cough is a respiratory illness caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.  Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can affect people of all ages. Here are some talking points about pertussis:

Disease Burden
Reports of pertussis cases were lower than usual over the past few years, during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the United States is beginning to return to pre-pandemic patterns.  In 2024, reported cases of pertussis increased across the United States, indicating a return to more typical trends. Preliminary data show that more than six times as many cases have been reported as of week 52 reported on December 28, 2024, compared to the same time in 2023.  The number of reported cases in 2024 was higher than what was seen in 2019, prior to the pandemic.  West Virginia has one of the lowest rates of pertussis in the United States with less than 50 cases reported annually over the past five years. In 2024, a total of 53 cases were reported in West Virginia or a rate of 3 cases per 100,000 individuals.

Symptoms
Symptoms include a cough that can last for weeks or months, a runny nose, nasal congestion, red eyes, and fever. The signature “whoop” sound, which is a sharp gasp for air after a cough, usually appears a few weeks into the illness.

Transmission
Pertussis is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth.  People can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for at least 2 weeks after coughing begins. Some people have mild symptoms and don’t know they have whooping cough, but they can still spread the bacteria to others. Many babies who get whooping cough are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers who don’t know they have it.

Treatment
Early treatment with antibiotics can make the infection less severe.  Some people should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick if they have been around someone with whooping cough.  If you’ve been exposed to someone with whooping cough, talk to a healthcare provider about preventive antibiotics. A healthcare provider or health department generally decides who should get preventive antibiotics.

Complications
The most common complication of pertussis is bacterial pneumonia. Rare complications include seizures, inflammation of the brain, and death.

Risk factors
Infants are more likely to develop complications from pertussis, but anyone can get it. The age groups with the most pertussis diagnoses are infants under one year old and adolescents between 10 and 20 years old.

Prevention
The pertussis vaccine is effective, but protection fades over time. Pregnant people can get a booster shot to help protect their newborn.

When to seek medical care
Seek immediate medical care if your child has trouble breathing, has periods of not breathing, seems very sluggish, or shows signs of dehydration.