This time of year, many respiratory illnesses are starting to spread throughout our campus community. One of these illnesses is pertussis, also known as whooping cough. While the broader Dane County has been monitoring an increase of whooping cough cases since the summer, University Health Services (UHS) has been paying close attention to these trends as our students return to campus. In the past few weeks, our team has been working closely with Public Health Madison & Dane County to follow up with students who have tested positive for whooping cough.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is very contagious.
Whooping cough is a very contagious respiratory illness that spreads from person to person and is known for causing uncontrollable, violent coughing, which can make it hard to breathe. It spreads when people cough or sneeze near others, who then proceed to breathe in the pertussis bacteria. Symptoms can appear between seven and 20 days after exposure. They include:
- Runny or stuffed-up nose
- Fever
- Persistent cough and violent coughing fits
For most people, the illness is disruptive and uncomfortable, but not life-threatening. If you are experiencing symptoms of whooping cough, you should call UHS at 608-265-5600 to speak with a nurse. Urgent medical advice is also available after hours and on the weekends by calling 608-265-5600 (option 1).
If you experience a minor cough that does not interfere with sleeping or activities, you likely have a viral upper respiratory infection and not pertussis.
Vaccines help keep you safe from getting severely sick from whooping cough.
Getting the recommended vaccines lessen your chances of ever getting sick with whooping cough. If you do get sick, your illness won’t be as severe as if you were unvaccinated. Whooping cough vaccines are recommended for children, teens, and adults, including college students.
There are two types of vaccines that protect against whooping cough, and which ones you receive depends on age:
- Children younger than 7 years old get the diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine.
- Teens and adults get the tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. This is usually recommended around age 11 or 12.
Check your vaccination record to see if you received the above vaccinations. Students who are unvaccinated can call UHS at 608-265-5600 to schedule an appointment to receive the Tdap vaccine. Even if you have the pertussis vaccination, if you experience symptoms, you should contact UHS.
Help us prevent the spread of whooping cough.
Practice good hygiene. Stay at home and away from others if you are sick. When coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue or cough into your sleeve. Wash your hands often.
Remember, UHS is here to support your health all semester long. We continue to monitor infectious disease trends as we head into respiratory virus season and encourage everyone to stay up-to-date on their vaccines, including COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, which are now available at campus-wide clinics.