Pertussis

(This page is part of a series. For information on other illnesses that can affect NPS employees, volunteers, commercial use providers, and visitors, please see the NPS A–Z Health Topics index.)

CDC. Medical Illustrator: Dan Higgins

THE BASICS:
Pertussis (also known as “Whooping Cough”) is a bacterial infection that spreads easily from person to person through coughing or sneezing. The illness has 3 stages. Stage 1 can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually appears like a common cold but may appear as apnea (pauses in breathing) in babies and young children. Stage 2 may include cough paroxysms – rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits, which usually last 1 to 6 weeks but can last for up to 10 weeks. Stage 3 is the recovery from the cough. Some people with pertussis may have very mild symptoms and not realize that they are sick or contagious.

Pertussis can cause complications in people of all ages, but it is particularly dangerous in babies under one year of age and can cause death. People can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for at least 2 weeks after coughing begins. People usually develop symptoms 7–10 days (range 4–21 days) after an exposure. High risk people are those who personally are at high risk of developing severe illness (e.g., infants and people with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma that may be exacerbated by a pertussis infection) and people who will have close contact with others at high risk (e.g., pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy and people in high-risk settings like childcare settings). Two vaccines in the United States help prevent whooping cough: DTaP and Tdap. These vaccines also provide protection against tetanus and diphtheria.

PREVENTION:

• Practice good respiratory hygiene. Cover your cough or sneeze. Wash your hands often.
• Make sure you are up to date on vaccination. The CDC recommends that babies/young children get five shots of DTaP between the ages of 2 months and 6 years; people 11 years of age or older get a Tdap shot; and pregnant women get a Tdap shot during the first trimester of each pregnancy.

RESPONSE:

• If you suspect that you might have pertussis, contact your doctor. Doctors generally treat whooping cough with antibiotics, which can make the illness less serious and can help prevent spreading the bacteria to others.
• If you are a household contact or a close contact of someone diagnosed with pertussis, you should talk to your doctor. You may be recommended to take postexposure antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent getting sick. The CDC supports postexposure antibiotic use to people at high risk of developing severe pertussis, as well as people who will have close contact with others at high risk of developing severe pertussis. Antibiotic prophylaxis is usually given to contacts within 21 days of cough onset in the original pertussis case.

Last updated: 7/3/2023

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RESOURCES:

• CDC website on pertussis

Disease Reporting

Visitors: Please email us to report any disease or health concern you believe may be related to your visit. You should also contact your healthcare provider who will report any confirmed and reportable disease on your behalf to the local or state health department.

Concessioners & Partners: Please email us to report illnesses as defined in NPS guidance and policy and in the Concessions contract.

Employees & Volunteers: NPS staff should report all employee and volunteer incidents as defined in NPS guidance and policy by contacting your NPS Public Health Consultant (restricted access), or you can email us. All work-related exposures and illnesses must also be reported in the Safety Management Information System (SMIS) (restricted access). All known disease exposures should be reported in SMIS as well.