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Whooping cough (pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems. It's important for babies and children to get vaccinated against it.
The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat (a high temperature is uncommon).
After about a week, you or your child:
The cough may last for several weeks or months.
Whooping cough can spread very easily. It's best to call the GP before you go in. They might suggest talking over the phone.
Check symptoms on 111 online (for children aged 5 and over) or call 111 (for children under 5).
Babies under 6 months old with whooping cough have an increased chance of having problems such as:
Whooping cough is less severe in older children and adults but coughing may cause problems including:
Treatment for whooping cough depends on your age and how long you've had the infection.
Hospital treatment is usually needed if you have severe whooping cough, or your baby is under 6 months old and has whooping cough.
If whooping cough is diagnosed within 3 weeks of the infection, you'll be given antibiotics to help stop it spreading to others. Antibiotics may not reduce symptoms.
If you've had whooping cough for more than 3 weeks, you're no longer contagious and do not need antibiotics.
Keep taking the antibiotics until you've completed the course, even if you feel better. Stopping treatment too soon could lead to the infection coming back.
There are some things you can do to help ease the symptoms of whooping cough.
get plenty of rest
drink lots of fluids
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve discomfort
do not give a child under 16 paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time – always check first with a GP or pharmacist
do not give aspirin to children under 16
do not take cough medicines – they're not suitable for young children and do not help with this type of cough
If you have whooping cough, you're contagious from about 6 days after the start of cold-like symptoms to 3 weeks after the coughing starts.
If you start antibiotics within 3 weeks of starting to cough, it will reduce the time you're contagious for.
Stay off school, work or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or 3 weeks after your symptoms started if you've not had antibiotics.
The whooping cough vaccine protects babies and children from getting whooping cough. That's why it's important to have all the routine NHS vaccinations.
The whooping cough vaccine is routinely given as part of the:
If you're pregnant you should also have the whooping cough vaccine – ideally between 16 and 32 weeks.
