Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Explained: A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Your Child

February 2025

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Explained: A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Your Child

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a contagious respiratory infection that can cause severe coughing fits and serious complications, especially for babies. Understanding the symptoms, risks, and ways to protect your child can help prevent the spread and reduce the chances of severe illness.

What is Whopping Cough or Pertussis?

It is a respiratory infection caused by bacteria that spreads easily. The infection can be serious, especially for babies.

1: Symptoms:

Strong coughing that worsens after a few weeks and can last for months. Between coughs children take deep, fast breaths, they can turn blue or gray around their mouth, can have a high-pitched “whooping” sound, apnea, and vomiting and exhaustion can occur during and after coughing fits. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGOP0NJOQw

2: Complications

Pneumonia
Seizures
Brain Damage
Apea
Death

3: Testing and Treatment

If you suspect you might have pertussis or have not been vaccinated and have had close contact with someone with pertussis, avoid close contact with others and talk with your doctor about testing. If you test positive for pertussis, isolate for 21 days if untreated or for 5 days until treatment is complete.

4: Prevention

The best way to protect your child from severe symptoms is with the vaccine and booster shot (DTaP for infants and young children and TDaP for older children, teens and adults).

For more information about whooping cough, visit HealthyChildren.org at https://bit.ly/3NUYptE

5: Vaccinate

Young children should get the vaccine at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age, and at 12-18 months and 4 or 5 years of age before they start school. Children also should get a booster shot when they are 11 or 12 years old.

Parents, family members and caregivers who will be in close contact with babies younger than 1 year should get a booster shot. This lowers the chance of passing the infection to the infant. Women who are pregnant should get the vaccine during the third trimester. Getting the vaccine during each pregnancy provides short-term protection to the baby.

Contact Your Pediatrician if You Have Concerns

Your infant or child has not been fully immunized and/or has been exposed to someone with whooping cough or who has a chronic cough.

Your child’s cough becomes more severe and frequent.

Your child is struggling to breathe or the child’s lips and fingertips become blue or gray.

The child is exhausted after coughing, is not eating, vomits after coughing and looks sick.

The Following Groups of People are at High Risk of Developing Severe Pertussis Infection

Infants under 12 months of age.  Severe and sometimes fatal pertussis-related complications occur in infants under 12 months of age. This especially occurs among infants under 4 months of age.
People with pre-existing health conditions that may be exacerbated by a pertussis infection, including people with immunocompromising conditions or moderate to severe medically treated asthma

What To Do If Your Child is Exposed

Child Care -Pertussis vaccine and PEP(post exposure prophylaxis should be administered as recommended for household and other close contacts. In the setting of known pertussis exposure, children and child care providers who are symptomatic should be excluded from the child care setting, pending evaluation by a physician.
Schools -Use of PEP for large groups of students usually is not recommended, especially in the setting of widespread community transmission, but exceptions for specific individuals can be considered. This occurs when close contact simulates household exposure or when pertussis in the exposed person may result in severe medical consequences.
Household contacts -CDC supports providing PEP to all asymptomatic household contacts of a pertussis case within 21 days of onset of cough in the index patient.

Whooping cough can be dangerous, but with timely vaccination and proper precautions, you can help protect your child and others. If you have any concerns about your child’s cough or possible exposure to pertussis, contact our office right away. Early action can make all the difference.