What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that spreads from one person to another. It causes severe episodes of coughing. The 'whoop' refers to the sound you may make if you take a quick breath between coughs.

Pertussis, or the 'hundred-day cough', are other names for whooping cough.

Whooping cough can feel uncomfortable and last for a long time. After 1 to 2 weeks, the cold-like symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse. After 2 to 6 weeks, the cough begins to get better. But it can take weeks to months for the cough to go away completely.

It may cause serious health problems, especially in young babies and children. Outbreaks occur every 3 to 4 years and are most common in people not vaccinated.

This article includes advice for people aged 5 years and above. You can find information about whooping cough during pregnancy and in babies and younger children on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

Whooping cough usually begins with cold-like symptoms including:

• runny nose
• sneezing
• mild dry cough
• fever

After these mild symptoms appear, the cough worsens.

The cough usually comes in long, uncontrollable bursts. This may happen at night, which may make it difficult for you to sleep. When the cough is severe, it may cause:

• vomiting
• fainting
• broken ribs
• poor bladder control (urinary incontinence).

Whooping cough's most well-known symptom is the 'whoop' sound. Taking a quick breath between bouts of coughing can cause this sound. Babies may not have a cough at all. But they can have episodes of turning blue or pauses in their breathing.

What causes whooping cough?

Bacteria called Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough. It can spread easily from an infected person through droplets when they cough or sneeze or by direct contact with someone that is infected with the bacteria. For example, you could become infected if you touch or shake hands with an infected person or if they cough or sneeze near you.

Whooping cough is contagious. About 9 in 10 people who are not vaccinated and have contact with a household member with whooping cough will catch the infection.

You are contagious with whooping cough for 3 weeks after the cough starts, or until you have had 5 days of antibiotics.

If anyone in your household has whooping cough, they should not attend childcare, school or work. This is to prevent spreading the infection to others.

Talk to your doctor if you are unsure if you or your child can return to work or school.

Who is at risk of whooping cough?

Anyone of any age can catch whooping cough. Some groups have a higher risk. These include:

• people who have not been vaccinated against whooping cough
• people who have not received a whooping cough booster vaccine in the past 10 years
• babies under 6 months old because they are not fully vaccinated yet — this risk period is longer if the 6-month vaccines are not given on time
• people living in the same house as someone with whooping cough

Whooping cough is most dangerous for babies. Most hospital stays and deaths from whooping cough happen in babies who are not old enough to receive all the vaccine doses.

Can I have the whooping cough vaccine if I'm pregnant?

Pertussis vaccines are safe if you're pregnant. You should have whooping cough vaccination between 20 and 32 weeks of every pregnancy to boost your protection against whooping cough. Vaccination at this stage of pregnancy means you will pass on whooping cough antibodies to your growing baby. This gives the baby protection after birth — even before they are old enough to have the vaccine themselves.

If you or your partner are pregnant, ask your doctor or midwife about vaccination.

Partners, grandparents, carers and other adults who have contact with babies should also discuss having the whooping cough vaccine with their doctor.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see your doctor if you think you or your child has whooping cough. This is to make sure you receive a diagnosis and the correct treatment.

Getting a professional diagnosis helps you get the right treatment and protects your household and close contacts. It may give health authorities important information about infections in the community.

If you or your child has had close contact with someone who has whooping cough, you should also speak to your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce your chance of becoming infected and becoming sick. This is important for young children, people at high risk of health problems and those likely to pass the infection to children (for example, parents and child care workers).

Whooping cough is a notifiable condition. This means that your doctor needs to tell the local health authorities about the cases they see. It is important for local health authorities to know about whooping cough in the community, so they can help control an outbreak.

How is whooping cough diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and if you have been in contact with someone who has whooping cough. They will listen to your breathing.

If the doctor thinks you may have whooping cough, they might tell you to have some tests. The tests include a nose or throat swab or a blood test. These tests can help work out if you have whooping cough.

It is best to have these tests when your symptoms first start. Do not delay going to your doctor if you think you have whooping cough.

How is whooping cough treated?

Antibiotics are used to treat whooping cough. While it is not usual for antibiotics to speed up your recovery, they will reduce your risk of spreading whooping cough to others. You are no longer contagious 5 days after starting antibiotics or 3 weeks after the cough starts.

You can try to relieve your symptoms with these tips:

• get plenty of rest
• drink water or other fluids — small sips may be easier to manage between bouts of coughing
• avoid cigarette smoke

Can whooping cough be prevented?

The best protection against whooping cough is vaccination.

The whooping cough vaccine is on the childhood immunisation schedule. This vaccine has reduced the rate of illness and hospital stays from whooping cough in Australia.

Many illnesses have similar symptoms to whooping cough. If you and your child are vaccinated, your symptoms may be mild.

Vaccination prevents most cases of serious illness caused by whooping cough. It also reduces the number of cases of whooping cough in the community. This will protect people who are young or unable to get vaccinated.

Vaccines against whooping cough are available as a combination vaccine. Your doctor will advise you which one is right for you, based on your age and situation.

During pregnancy and childhood, you can have the whooping cough vaccine for free through the National Immunisation Program.

Whooping cough vaccine

What are the complications of whooping cough?

Most health problems due to whooping cough happen in babies and can cause long-term disability or death.

Health problems include:

• lung infection (pneumonia)
• fits (seizures)
• brain damage (encephalopathy) due to breathing problems or seizures

Resources and support

• For more information about immunisation in Australia, visit the Department of Health Immunisation website.
• The Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation website has videos and other tools to help you make decisions about immunisation and your family.
• Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.
• If you care for a child ages 5 years or younger, or you're pregnant, call the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby video call service. You can speak face-to-face with a maternal child health nurse. Video call is a free service and is available from 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week (including public holidays).