Frequently Asked Questions

The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to a cold: sneezing, a runny nose, possibly a low-grade fever, and a cough. After one or two weeks, the cough becomes more severe, such as:

• A cough occurring in sudden, uncontrollable bursts where one cough follows the next without a break for breath.
• A high-pitched whooping sound occurs when breathing in after a coughing episode. Whooping is less common in infants, adults, and people who have received pertussis vaccine.
• Vomiting during or after a coughing spell.
• The person’s face or lips may look blue from lack of oxygen.
• The cough is often worse at night.
• Between coughing spells, the person seems well, but the illness is exhausting over time.

Coughing episodes gradually become less frequent but may continue for several weeks or months until the lungs heal.

The bacteria that cause pertussis is found in fluid from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected. Spread of these bacteria can happen when a person with pertussis coughs or sneezes on you, or by touching the fluid and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. In general, a person is at greater risk of getting pertussis if they are within three feet of someone with pertussis for at least 10 hours a week.

The period between exposure to the bacteria and onset of illness is usually seven to 10 days but may be as long as 21 days.

Pertussis is most infectious (most likely to spread to others) early in the illness.

People who have pertussis but have completed five days of antibiotics can no longer spread the disease.

People who have the disease but do not take antibiotics can spread the disease during the first three weeks they are coughing. Note: The cough will generally last longer than three weeks until the lungs are healed.

Testing is recommended for persons with:

• A cough of any duration in a person who has been notified of a close exposure to pertussis,
• A paroxysmal cough of any duration, with whooping, post-tussive vomiting/gagging or apnea, or
• A persistent cough of unknown etiology, lasting more than seven days.

Testing for pertussis is available through the Minnesota Department of Health via Student Health and Counseling. Testing is completed without cost to the student. Results are generally available 2-3 days after test has been collected.

Testing can also be completed in Northfield at the local urgent care, primary care offices, and the Northfield Hospital emergency room.

Isolation

If you test positive for pertussis/whipping cough, you are required to isolate until you have completed the required antibiotic course (5 days total) or until 21 days after cough onset. Your case will be reported to the Minnesota Department of Health who will assist in contact tracing and case investigation.

Isolation procedures remain the same as recommendations for those with COVID-19. Students are responsible for letting all professors, coaches, and supervisors of their absences. Students should abstain from all social and academic activities until their isolation has been completed.

If you require medical attention while in isolation, please contact student health and counseling. TimelyCare remains an accessible choice for telehealth care. If you are having a medical emergency, contact 911 immediately.

Treatment

Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics, but treatment may not cure the symptoms. However, antibiotics will reduce the spread of disease to others.

Antibiotics lessen the symptoms if given during the early stages of illness. When antibiotics are started later in the illness, the damage from pertussis is already done and the cough will last until the lungs heal. Pertussis bacteria die off naturally after three weeks of coughing. If antibiotics are not started within that time, they are no longer recommended.

Antibiotics are sometimes also given to close or high-risk contacts of persons with pertussis to prevent or lessen the symptoms.  Antibiotics to prevent pertussis are generally limited to those who are household contacts or high-risk contacts of the pertussis case.

Close Contacts

If you test positive, you are responsible for notifying all close contacts. These include:

• Household contacts: Individuals who have regular interaction within the same household; roommates in dormitories, apartments, or other housing for college students. This does not include entire floors.

Household contacts are generally given post-exposure antibiotic treatment to prevent further spread.

• Common Space: Contacts with more than 10 hours per week within 3 feet off each other (i.e. intimate classroom or laboratory setting, activity group, work colleagues)
• Face-to-Face Contacts: Contacts with direct face-to-face exposure during coughing or sneezing, regardless of the duration of exposures (kissing, etc…)
• Shared confined space: those in close proximity for a prolonged period of time, such as 1 hour within three feet proximity with a symptomatic case (i.e. long car ride, small conference room, piano lessons, work cube mate, study rooms, small and confined classrooms daycare, etc…)

These close contacts are told to watch for symptoms and get tested should they develop any. Immediate treatment is not generally required.

If you are a household contact of a confirmed case (roommate, suitemate, live in the same off-campus apartment/house), please make an appointment with SHAC to discuss possible post-exposure treatment.  

If you meet exposure criteria then you will be contacted by the MDH or the College and told to follow these instructions:

If You Have Symptoms (one of three options):

• Isolate and complete 5 days of antibiotics (you will be instructed to go to SHAC, Urgent Care, or Timely Care, or another medical provider to receive a prescription for the antibiotics); or
• If you do not take the antibiotics then your medical provider will perform a nasopharyngeal swab for lab analysis, and you will isolate until lab results come back negative; or
• Isolate for 21 days (from cough onset) if you do not take the antibiotics and a nasopharyngeal swab is not collected.

If You Do NOT Have Symptoms:

• Complete 5 days of antibiotics and wear a well-fitting mask in public.
• If symptoms arise then return to SHAC, Timely Care, Urgent Care, or another medical provider for further evaluation.

The best way to prevent pertussis is to remain up to date with all vaccines. The Tdap vaccine offers coverage for pertussis. This vaccination requires updating every 10 years and is likely to expire during your time at Carleton. An updated vaccine is available through SHAC during the monthly immunization clinics or at any of the local pharmacies.

You can also:

• Avoid close contact with others who are coughing or otherwise ill.
• Wash your hands often.
• Stay at home if ill.
• Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your sleeve.
• Seek medical attention if you develop pertussis-like symptoms or have been exposed to someone with pertussis.

This website will continue to post updates as they are relevant. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health are also excellent resources.