Version July 2025
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What is whooping cough? —
This is an infection that causes a severe cough. It spreads easily from person to person. It is also called "pertussis."
Most people get vaccines during childhood to prevent whooping cough. Doctors recommend that babies and young children get 5 doses of the vaccine. They also recommend that children ages 11 to 12 and most adults get 1 dose.
Babies can get whooping cough before they have had all of their vaccine doses. Older children can get it if they don't get their vaccines, or if it has been a few years since they were vaccinated.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough? —
Children who have not been vaccinated are more likely to have severe symptoms.
●Early on, whooping cough usually causes sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, and other cold symptoms. It also causes a mild cough.
●After 1 to 2 weeks, the cold symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse. The baby or child can have severe coughing attacks. During these attacks, they might gag, choke, or have trouble breathing. They can also vomit from coughing so hard.
Sometimes, babies and children make a "whoop" sound when they breathe in after a coughing attack. This is where the name "whooping cough" comes from. But not everyone makes this sound.
●After 2 to 6 weeks, the cough starts to get better. But it can take weeks to months to go away completely.
Babies, especially those younger than 4 months, might develop severe symptoms more quickly. They are also more likely to have serious problems, like trouble breathing or pneumonia.
Will my child need tests? —
Maybe. A doctor or nurse should be able to tell if your child has whooping cough based on their symptoms. They might also do tests, such as:
●Testing a sample of mucus from the back of their nose or throat
●Blood tests
●Chest X-ray
How is whooping cough treated? —
It is usually treated with antibiotics. These medicines can help the infection get better faster and keep it from spreading to others. Different antibiotics can be used to treat whooping cough, depending on the child's age.
Most babies younger than 4 months need to be treated in the hospital. That's because the infection is very serious and can even be deadly in babies. In the hospital, doctors and nurses can watch a baby closely and give them oxygen, fluids, and nutrition (if necessary).
If your baby or child has whooping cough, you and others in your home might also need antibiotics, even if you aren't sick. This can help keep you from getting the infection, too.
What can I do on my own? —
If you are caring for your baby or child at home, you should:
●Make sure that they get plenty of rest.
●Offer them fluids frequently to avoid dehydration.
●Give them small meals to avoid vomiting after coughing.
●Keep them away from places where people are smoking.
It's also important to make sure that your child gets all of their antibiotics, even if they start to feel better.
Doctors do not recommend giving over-the-counter cough medicines to children. Cough and cold medicines are not likely to help, and they can cause serious problems in young children.
How can I prevent spreading whooping cough? —
You should:
●Keep your child away from other people when they are sick. They should stay home from school or day care until the doctor says that it is OK to return.
●Wash your hands often, and help children wash their hands.
●Make sure that anyone who lives with or takes care of your child gets the whooping cough vaccine if they haven't had it.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for an ambulance (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if your child has whooping cough and:
●Stops breathing, or has a hard time breathing
●Has a seizure
Tell the emergency workers that your child has whooping cough so they can avoid getting or spreading the infection.
Call the doctor or nurse if your child has whooping cough and:
●Gets a high fever
●Vomits over and over again
●Gets dehydrated – Dehydration is when the body loses too much water. It can make people feel thirsty, tired, dizzy, or confused and have dark yellow urine. Babies who are dehydrated might have fewer wet diapers than usual.
You should also call the doctor or nurse if you think that your child might have whooping cough. That way, they can get treatment as soon as possible.
Patient education: Whooping cough in teens and adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for babies and children age 0 to 6 years (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (The Basics)
Patient education: Isolation precautions (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for infants and children age 0 to 6 years (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (Beyond the Basics)
