image of barnstable county courthouse

Cases of Pertussis, also known as “Whooping Cough”, are on the rise post-pandemic

Have you ever heard of whooping cough, also known as pertussis? Named after the telltale “whoop” sound people develop when taking a breath after a coughing fit, it is a bacterial infection that can pass from easily from person-to-person. Bacteria can enter the body through the mouth, eyes, or nose either by inhaling droplets in the air or sharing drinks, utensils, etc.

Over the past 4 years, precautions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic—like masking and remote work and school—quelled the transmission of pertussis. Presently, however, cases of pertussis on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts and nationally are already back to or exceeding pre-pandemic numbers of cases. There have been ten cases on Cape Cod in 2024 as of this publication, versus the 0 to1 cases per year that occurred when we were practicing respiratory precautions.  

With other respiratory diseases going around, how can you recognize pertussis?

Pertussis progresses through 3 stages that can last weeks to months. If you have been exposed to pertussis, but haven’t yet developed symptoms, taking antibiotics can prevent getting sick altogether. 

Symptoms/Stages:

  • Stage 1 (1 to 2 weeks post-exposure), pertussis looks a lot like the common cold. An infected person might have mild symptoms of non-stop runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and mild cough. 
  • Stage 2 (4 to 8 weeks post-exposure), sick people can experience severe coughing fits—so severe that they have difficulty catching their breath and can produce that telltale “whoop” sound as they try to inhale. These coughing fits can be so severe they cause vomiting. This a dangerous symptom for babies; babies can turn blue (hypoxic) from oxygen deprivation. These spasmodic coughing fits are often worse at night and can be exhausting and frightening. The cough can also progress to pneumonia.  
  • Stage 3 (weeks to months post-exposure), symptoms gradually improve. However, a second respiratory infection can trigger new coughing fits and spasms. 

Why should you worry about pertussis?

The symptoms are unpleasant and lengthy! It also is especially dangerous to infants, who can experience gagging, gasping, slow heartbeat, exhaustion, low-grade fever, spasms, and pauses in breathing. Infants infected with pertussis don’t usually have the characteristic “whoop” and might not even cough much; don’t wait for these telltale symptoms to seek medical care! Two out of three babies with pertussis are hospitalized and in severe cases they can die. If you have respiratory symptoms, regardless of what it is, consider staying away from vulnerable members of the community including the very young and the very old. 

Vaccination

Getting vaccinated with Tdap (for adults) or Dtap (for children) is the best way to prevent getting sick with whooping cough in the first place. Immunity to pertussis provided by the vaccine can wane over time so you may need a booster. Call your doctor or Barnstable County Public Health Nursing Program at (508) 375-6617 to discuss and schedule a vaccination appointment today! 

Visit our Website for Updates!

We’ve created a pertussis page tailored to Cape Cod and the Islands. The page includes valuable information for the public and healthcare providers alike.

Resources 

Graphic from CDC about optimal timing for testing from Chapter 10: Pertussis | Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases | CDC

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.