When Your Child Has Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
When Your Child Has Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious infection of the lungs. It is caused by a bacteria (germ). And it spreads through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. With whooping cough, thick mucus forms deep inside the airways. This leads to severe coughing spells that produce a “whooping” sound (sharp intake of breath). Most infants and children in the United States receive a vaccine to prevent whooping cough. But infants too young to be fully immunized are vulnerable to infection. Occasionally, whooping cough can occur in children who have received the full course of vaccine.
What Are the Symptoms?
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| Pertussis causes a severe cough that makes a "whoop" sound. |
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At first, whooping cough seems like a common cold. Symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, mild fever, and a slight cough.
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One to two weeks later, the cough becomes severe. It usually comes in spells that last a minute or more and end with a high-pitched whoop. The intense coughing can cause a child to break a rib, vomit, turn blue, or even pass out. This stage can last 1 to 6 weeks or longer.
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In time the cough improves, although it may linger in a less severe form for months. A child can spread the infection as long as the cough lasts.
Who Is At Risk?
Children who are fully immunized are usually protected from whooping cough. But others are at risk, including:
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Infants 6 months and younger who haven’t received at least 3 doses of whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
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Children and teens age 11 to 18 who haven’t had a booster shot of the vaccine
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Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated or who hasn’t had a booster shot of the vaccine
Complications of Whooping Cough
Whooping cough can be fatal in infants under 6 months of age. In children younger than 2, whooping cough can cause:
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Ear infections
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Pneumonia
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Slowed or stopped breathing
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Dehydration
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Seizures
How Is Whooping Cough Diagnosed?
Your child’s doctor will ask about your child’s health history and perform a physical exam. A small sample of material may be taken from your child’s nose or throat. The sample is sent to a laboratory and tested for the bacteria that cause whooping cough. Your child may also have blood tests or chest x-rays.
How Is Whooping Cough Treated?
Older children and teens are treated at home. They are made comfortable until the symptoms pass. Infants and toddlers are more likely to have complications, so they are often treated in the hospital. During a hospital stay, children with whooping cough:
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May be given medications to relieve inflamed airways.
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Have their breathing carefully monitored.
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May have their airways suctioned to remove mucus.
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Receive antibiotics through an IV line (soft tube into a vein in the arm).
If Antibiotics Are Prescribed
Antibiotics won’t cure whooping cough in most cases. But the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help make your child less contagious. In that case:
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Make sure your child takes ALL the medication, even if he or she feels better. Otherwise, the infection may come back.
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Be sure your child takes the medication as directed. For example, some antibiotics should be taken with food.
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Ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist what side effects the medication may cause and what to do about them.
Caring for Your Child at Home
To help your child recover fully from whooping cough:
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Provide plenty of fluids, such as water, juice, or warm soup. Fluids help loosen mucus, so your child can breathe more easily. They also help prevent dehydration.
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Offer smaller meals. Small amounts of food are easier to eat when coughing is severe.
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Make sure your child gets enough rest. Ask your child’s doctor about the best position to improve breathing.
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Run a humidifier in your child’s bedroom to relieve coughing and loosen mucus in the airways. Be sure to clean the humidifier regularly to prevent growth of mold and bacteria.
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Keep your house free of irritants that can trigger coughing spells. These include tobacco smoke and fumes from fireplaces.
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Avoid giving your child over-the-counter cough syrups.They won’t ease your child’s cough and may be harmful.
Preventing Whooping Cough
Make sure your child has the full series of DTaP vaccine. If your child misses a shot, talk to your child’s doctor about a makeup schedule.
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Avoid adults or children with whooping cough.
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Don’t take your child with whooping cough to school or daycare until the doctor says it’s okay.
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Ask your child’s doctor if others in your household should receive a booster shot to help keep them from getting sick.
Call Your Child’s Doctor Right Away If Your Child:
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The Whooping Cough Vaccine
Most children receive a vaccine against whooping cough starting at 2 months of age. It’s often combined with vaccines for two other diseases, diphtheria and tetanus. The combination vaccine (called DTaP) is given in a series of five shots at these ages:
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2 months
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4 months
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6 months
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15 to 18 months
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4 to 6 years, just before starting school
Effects of the vaccine may start to fade by age 11. For that reason, doctors recommend a booster shot for most children at 11 to 12 years of age. Booster shots are also recommended for some adults. Talk to your child’s doctor to learn more.