Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
 
PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) 
 
 
Pertussis is a very contagious bacterial infection of 
the respiratory tract.  Usually it causes a persistent 
cough that follows a normal cold.  The child has 
episodes of violent coughing that end with the 
typical high -pitched Whoop, and occasionally 
vomiting is seen.  Between bursts of coughing the 
child appears well. Coughing attacks may 
continue to occur for 10- 12 weeks.  Petussis is 
frequently complicated by pneumonia and ear 
infections, particularly in infants.  Death from  
pertussis is rare. 
 
Who gets this disease? 
Petussis occurs in all age groups.  Untreated cases 
in older children and adults can spread pertussis to 
infants and young children at home.  It is 
important that all infants and young children be up 
to date with  pertussis vaccination.  The most 
serious disease and complications are seen in 
infants and very young children. 
 
How is it spread? 
The bacterium is spread by direct contact with 
discharge from the nose or throat of an infected 
person, or by breathing in i nfected droplets in the 
air when an infected person coughs.  The period of 
greatest risk of spread is during the early “cold” 
stage. 
 
What are the symptoms? 
The disease begins with the cold like symptoms 
such as runny nose and watery eyes, and cough.  
The cough becomes more persistent.   Within 2 
weeks the cough occurs as bouts of uncontrollable 
cough often with a “whoop” sound.  Vomiting 
often follows the cough.  The “whoop” sound may 
be absent in older children and adults. 
What if a child is exposed to pertussis? 
1. All close contacts younger than 7 years of 
age who have not completed the four -dose 
primary series should complete the series 
with the minimum intervals. 
2. Close contacts who are 4 -6 years of age 
and who have not yet received the second 
booster dos e (usually the fifth dose of 
DTaP) should be vaccinated. 
3. Any close contact 11 years old and older 
can receive a single dose of Tdap if it has 
been at least 2 years since the previous Td. 
4. Your physician may recommend 
antibiotics for your child and all close  
contacts. 
 
How can the spread of this disease be 
prevented? 
A combination vaccine of Diphtheria, Tetanus and 
acellular Pertussis  (DTaP) is required for both 
childcare and school attendance.  The Advisory 
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) 
recommends immunizing children against 
pertussis, along with diphtheria and tetanus, 
beginning as early as six weeks of age.  The five 
dose series should be completed at 2 months, 4 
months, 6 months, and 15- 18 months, and 4- 6 
years of age. If the child has a contr aindication to 
the pertussis vaccine, they would receive a vaccine 
called DT which does not contain the pertussis 
antigen. 
 
A single booster dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus, and 
acellular Pertussis (Tdap) is recommended for 
adolescents 11 -18 years of age who h ave 
completed the recommended childhood 
DTP/DTaP vaccination series and have not 
received Tetanus and diptheria (Td) booster dose. 
Adults who are 18 and older should receive one 
dose of Tdap If they have received the Td booster 
an interval of at least 2 years between Td and 


PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) cont. 
Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
 
Tdap is encouraged to reduce the risk for local and 
systemic reactions after Tdap vaccination.  The Td 
booster is recommended every 10 years thereafter 
to provide protection. 
 
Reportable? 
Yes.  Pertussis is reportable by New Hampshire 
law to the Division of Public Health Services, 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at (603) 271-
4496.