Whooping Cough: What You Need to Know

Coughing is an all too common ailment this time of year. But recently, parents have to wonder if their child’s cough is a sign of something more serious than a cold. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness only found in humans caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. In light of the recent spike in cases, Lurie Children’s infectious disease specialist Larry Kociolek, MD, offers tips on how to recognize and prevent whooping cough in your children.

Whooping Cough Outbreak

The number of reported whooping cough cases in 2024 is higher than before the pandemic. Five times as many cases have been reported through the first 41 weeks of 2024, compared to 2023.

“It’s a highly spreadable illness. The disease is spread through respiratory droplets. If you are infected and cough, the droplets you cough into the air contain the bacteria, and those around you can breathe in the droplets and develop pertussis,” says Dr. Kociolek. He warns it is not an airborne disease. The infected droplets do not stay in the air long and only travel a short distance, unlike measles.

Infants, younger than one year old, have the highest reported rate of pertussis and are at the greatest risk for serious disease and death because their immune systems are still developing. About half of the infants that get the illness will need to be hospitalized and 25% of those hospitalized infants will get pneumonia, a serious lung infection.

What symptoms should I watch for?

Whooping cough is difficult to identify in its early stages because the symptoms are hard to differentiate from other respiratory viral illnesses, like the common cold. Early symptoms of whooping cough include runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. This may last 1-2 weeks and when the infected person is most contagious.

Over time the infected person will begin to have many rapid coughs followed by a “whoop sound” when inhaling. Vomiting and fatigue may result from the coughing fits. Struggling to breathe and cracked ribs may also occur. These symptoms can last up to 10 weeks. During the recovery phase, the coughing becomes milder and less frequent. 

One of the biggest obstacles is recognizing this illness in children. Young kids or infant’s respiratory muscles do not have the strength to generate enough force to make a whooping noise, so typically only older children and adults have that symptom. 

How do I protect myself and my family from infection?

Vaccinating yourself and your family is the best protection against whooping cough. DTaP is the recommended vaccine for young children, and Tdap is recommended for adolescents and adults, including pregnant women. The CDC provides guidance for the appropriate vaccines based on age and pregnancy status.

Those most at risk for acquiring pertussis and developing complications are young infants (younger than 6 months old). Infants are oftentimes not protected against pertussis because they haven’t completed the three pertussis vaccines given in the first six months of life. Boosting immunity in pregnant women can better protect young infants. If pregnant, the CDC recommends mom to receive Tdap during the early part of the third trimester of every pregnancy. This will protect the new infant from whooping cough during the first few months of age. 

“The best thing to do is to make sure you and your children are up-to-date on vaccines. It’s important for those who are regularly around infants in the home or at work (siblings, grandparents, nanny, teachers, etc.) to get vaccinated to protect infants. This is what we call cocooning – vaccinating everyone around the infant to protect the infant from acquiring the disease,” says Dr. Kociolek.

How is whooping cough treated?

If your child begins to cough violently or has any difficulty breathing, or if your child has a known exposure to someone with whooping cough, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Treatment likely includes antibiotics to fight or prevent the infection. 

To help ease symptoms at home, use a cool mist humidifier to loosen mucus and soothe the cough. Oxygen and other breathing treatments can help keep the lungs clear. Prevent or treat dehydration by drinking fluids like water and juice. To help prevent vomiting, eat small meals every few hours.

Where can I get vaccinations for my child?

Lurie Children’s offers childhood immunizations at several of our locations across the Chicagoland area. Learn more about Lurie Children's Primary Care.

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