Whooping cough reported in Eatonville

A single case of whooping cough has been reported in Eatonville.

According to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, a student at Eatonville High School has the illness, which is a contagious bacterial infection that causes a long-lasting and often severe cough.

The case was reported to the Health Department last week after tests by a medical lab confirmed the student has whooping cough (also known as pertussis). Officials believe the student had the illness beginning May 9.

Edie Jeffers, a Health Department spokeswoman, said a “very small number” of people were exposed to the student, who won’t attend school again until free of the illness.

Schools and health officials work together on reporting and monitoring contagious illnesses.

Pertussis (whooping cough usually starts with mild cold symptoms or cough, which can turn into severe coughing spells followed by gagging, vomiting and sometimes a "whoop" sound when someone with the illness is trying to catch their breath.

The illness, which can be fatal, is worst for infants and newborns. Infants with pertussis may eat poorly, turn blue, or stop breathing. Newborns are at the highest risk for complications that require hospitalization. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, pneumonia and convulsions.

A person begins experiencing the symptoms usually five to 21 days after being infected, according to health officials.

Jeffers said parents should seek medical attention for children who develop persistent coughs. “Don’t take for granted” that the cough be something less serious than pertussis, she said.

Children and adults can get vaccinated against whooping cough to help prevent it from spreading. Kirk’s Pharmacy in Eatonville and Walgreens in Graham, South Hill and Spanaway-Parkland provide free or low-cost whooping cough vaccines. The addresses of the stores and other information about whooping cough is available at tpchd.org/health-wellness.