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As respiratory illnesses pick up this season ('tis the season), I want to call attention to one that can be easy to mistake for an ordinary viral cold: pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Lewis County has had less than 10 confirmed or probable cases through Oct. 24, 2026, compared with 17 cases during all of 2025. Our numbers are lower this year, but pertussis remains a concern, especially for families with babies.
Pertussis is caused by bacteria that spread when an infected person coughs. At first, the illness may look like nothing more than a runny nose and a mild cough. Families often have no reason to think it is serious. But after a week or two, the coughing becomes intense. A child may seem perfectly normal between coughing fits, then cough over and over without getting a good breath. That gasp for air can produce the familiar “whoop” that gives the disease its name.
These coughing spells can be exhausting. A child or adult may cough hard enough to vomit, and the cough can continue for weeks or even months. Why so long? The bacteria produce a toxin that wipes out the tiny hair-like structures lining the airways called cilia. Normally, cilia help sweep mucus and debris out of the lungs. When they are missing, the airway relies on forceful coughing to clear. The cilia take time to grow back and function again.
The greatest risk is what pertussis can do to infants under one year of age. Babies rarely have the classic whoop following the cough and may not even cough at all. Infants may feed poorly or have pauses in breathing, known as apnea. If a baby stops breathing, turns blue, or is having trouble breathing, call 911. For young infants, what can look like a simple cold deserves careful attention.
Antibiotics are important to start early. Treatment helps stop the bacteria from spreading to others, even though the bothersome cough continues. Someone with pertussis should stay away from school, work, and gatherings until they have completed their antibiotic treatment, or for twenty-one days if untreated. Household contacts and others at high risk should be treated with a course of preventative antibiotics. This should be coordinated with one’s primary care provider.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent serious illness. Children are offered a DTaP vaccine series while adolescents and adults can be boosted with the Tdap (recommended every 10 years). Pregnant mothers are advised to receive Tdap during each pregnancy so protective antibodies can pass to their babies before birth. Reinfection can occur for those vaccinated or previously infected since one’s antibodies wane, so intermittent boosters help bolster immunity.
If you or your child has a persistent cough, especially after exposure to someone with pertussis, tell your provider. The coughing may not happen during the appointment, so your description matters. Being alert, seeking care early, and keeping vaccinations current will help protect your family and our community's most vulnerable members.
