Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory (lung) infection. In young people it causes a severe cough with a whooping sound. Babies and young children don’t usually have the whooping sound and the cough can be life threatening.
In babies, it can cause:
- pneumonia (lung infection)
- seizures (fits)
- brain damage from prolonged coughing episodes and lack of oxygen
- death - more common in children under 6 months.
Who’s most at risk
Anyone can get whooping cough but people most at risk include:
- babies under 6 months
- children living in the same household as someone with whooping cough
- children who’ve never had measles
- unvaccinated children.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms usually start about 7 to 10 days after getting infected, but it can be up to 3 weeks.
Whooping cough usually starts with:
- a runny nose
- sneezing
- tiredness.
Then your child will get a cough. Their coughing fits can be long and often. Their cough will end with a ‘whoop’ sound when they draw air back into their chest.
Small children often have trouble breathing and may vomit or gag after coughing. They may turn blue or stop breathing. If this happens call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
The coughing episodes can last for weeks, even after your child has had treatment.
When to seek help
See your GP if your child has:
- a runny nose, sneezing or tiredness
- been in contact with someone who has whooping cough.
Make sure you call ahead and let them know your child has symptoms so they can put control measures in place for your visit.
If you're not sure whether to go to an emergency department, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and speak to a registered nurse.
Call Triple Zero (000) if your child has a severe cough and is struggling to breathe and/or turning blue, or has stopped breathing.
How it spreads
Your child can get whooping cough if they breathe in droplets from an infected person's cough or sneeze. They can also get it if they touch a surface that has infected secretions and then touch their face or mouth.
Prevention
The best way to prevent your child getting whooping cough is to get them vaccinated. Read about when to get vaccinated on the Vaccination Matters website.
Cover coughs and sneezes and clean your hands:
- after coughing or sneezing
- after using a tissue or handkerchief
- before preparing or eating food or drinks
- after going to the toilet
- after handling rubbish
- after handling dirty washing
- after touching an affected area.
Diagnosis
Your GP may order a swab of your child’s nose, throat or sample of saliva to send to a laboratory.
Treatment
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics. The sooner your child gets them, the better.
If your child has had contact with an infected person, they may need antibiotics to stop them getting infected.
Infectious period
Your child will be infectious for around 21 days from the start of their symptoms.
If they’re treated with antibiotics, they’ll be infectious for the first 5 days of treatment. Their cough will last for several weeks, however, once treated they won’t be infectious after the 5 days.
If your child has whooping cough, they should stay away from the following until they’re no longer infectious:
- school
- day care
- child care
- pregnant women
- infants under 6 months.
You must let their school, pre-school or kindergarten know. You must also tell other parents and any sports groups or camps your child attends. This is a requirement under the Public Health Act.
Developed by the Infection Management and Prevention Service, Queensland Children’s Hospital. We acknowledge the input of consumers and carers.
Resource ID: FS170. Reviewed: August 2023.
Disclaimer: This information has been produced by healthcare professionals as a guideline only and is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your child’s doctor or healthcare professionals. Information is updated regularly, so please check you are referring to the most recent version. Seek medical advice, as appropriate, for concerns regarding your child’s health.
Last updated: October 2023