Whooping cough

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is very easy to catch.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is very easy to catch (infectious). It is a bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It is spread in the droplets of the coughs or sneezes of someone with the infection.

 

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Whooping cough :: North East and North Cumbria Healthier Together (nenc-healthiertogether.nhs.uk)

Whooping cough page

  • The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a cold, such as a runny nose, red and watery eyes, a sore throat, and a slightly raised temperature.
  • Intense coughing bouts start about a week later.
  • The bouts usually last a few minutes at a time and tend to be more common at night.
  • Coughing usually brings up thick mucus and may be followed by vomiting.
  • Between coughs, you or your child may gasp for breath – this may cause a ‘whoop’ sound, although not everyone has this.
  • The strain of coughing can cause the face to become very red, and there may be some slight bleeding under the skin or in the eyes.
  • Young children can sometimes briefly appear blue – this often looks worse than it is and their colour should return to normal quickly. 
  • In very young babies, the cough may not be particularly noticeable, but there may be brief periods where they stop breathing.
  • The bouts will eventually start to become less severe and less frequent over time, but it may be a few months before they stop completely.

 

Whooping cough can affect people of any age, including:

  • babies and young children – young babies under 6 months of age are at a particularly increased risk of complications of whooping cough
  • older children and adults – it tends to be less serious in these cases, but can still be unpleasant and frustrating
  • people who’ve had whooping cough before – you’re not immune to whooping cough if you’ve had it before, although it tends to be less severe the second time around
  • people vaccinated against whooping cough as a child – protection from the whooping cough vaccine tends to wear off after a few years

You can get whooping cough if you come into close contact with someone with the infection.

A person with whooping cough is infectious from about 6 days after they were infected – when they just have cold-like symptoms – until three weeks after the coughing bouts start.

Antibiotic treatment does not stop the cough but can reduce the length of time someone is infectious and stop the spread.

If your child has any of the following:

  • Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink
  • Breathing that stops or pauses
  • Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the rib or noisy breathing (grunting)
  • Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch
  • Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused
  • Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled
  • Has a fit (seizure)
  • Has a rash that does go away with pressure (see the 'Glass Test')
  • Is under 3 months old with temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)

You need urgent help.

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999

  • Have a cough that is particularly severe or is getting worse

  • Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe

  • Dry skin, lips or tongue

  • Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours

  • Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)

  • Irritable (unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)

  • Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39°C or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)

  • Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)

  •  Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months

  • Getting worse or you are worried about them

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today.

Please ring your GP surgery or call NHS 111 - dial 111

 

If none of the above features are present:

Self care

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111

This guidance has been reviewed and adapted by healthcare professionals across North East and North Cumbria with consent from the Hampshire development groups.  

Treatment for whooping cough depends on your age and how long you’ve had the infection.

Children under 6 months who are very ill and people with severe symptoms will usually be admitted to hospital for treatment.

People diagnosed during the first 3 weeks of infection may be prescribed antibiotics to take at home. These will help stop the infection spreading to others, but may not reduce the symptoms.

People who’ve had whooping cough for more than 3 weeks won’t normally need any specific treatment, as they’re no longer contagious and antibiotics are unlikely to help.

While you’re recovering at home, it can help to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, clean away mucus and sick from your or your child’s mouth, and take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for a fever.

Avoid using cough medicines, as they’re not suitable for young children and are unlikely to be of much help.

  • stay away from nursery, school or work until 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment or, if not taking antibiotics 21 days from the start of symptoms
  • cover your or your child’s mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing
  • dispose of used tissues immediately
  • wash your and your child’s hands regularly with soap and water
  • other members of your household may also be given antibiotics and a dose of the whooping cough vaccine to stop them becoming infected.

There are 3 routine vaccinations that can protect babies and children from whooping cough:

  • the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy – this can protect your baby during the first few weeks of life; the best time to have it is soon after the 16th week of your pregnancy
  • the 6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age
  • the 4-in-1 pre-school booster – offered to children by 3 years and 4 months

These vaccines don’t offer lifelong protection from whooping cough, but they can help stop children getting it when they’re young and more vulnerable to the effects of the infection.

Older children and adults aren’t routinely vaccinated, except during pregnancy or a whooping cough outbreak.

Babies and young children under 6 months are usually most severely affected by whooping cough.

They’re at an increased risk of:

  • dehydration
  • breathing difficulties
  • weight loss
  • pneumonia – an infection of the lungs
  • fits (seizures)
  • kidney problems
  • brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the brain
  • death – although this is very rare

Older children and adults tend to be less severely affected, although they may experience problems caused by repeated coughing, such as nosebleeds, bruised ribs or a hernia.