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Disease

Pertussis

Whooping cough is widespread in Australia and is one of the least controlled vaccine-preventable diseases. It is a highly contagious and affects people of all ages. 

Page last updated 01 August 2024

What you need to know about whooping cough

Whooping cough is widespread in Australia and is one of the least controlled vaccine-preventable diseases. It is a highly contagious and affects people of all ages.1

Below are some simple reasons to talk to your healthcare practitioner about pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough.

KNOW THE IMPACT

While often thought of as a disease in infants, approximately 50% of pertussis cases in Australia each year are in adults.4

  • Whooping cough can cause uncontrollable, severe and prolonged coughing attacks. Early symptoms can include a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, mild fever and cough. 2-4
  • Pertussis transmission most commonly occurs person-to-person through contact with respiratory droplets or by contact with airborne droplets of respiratory secretions. 5
  • One infected person can transmit whooping cough to as many as 5 unvaccinated people.2

 

KNOW THE RISKS

Infants who are too young to be fully immunized are at greatest risk of being hospitalized with pertussis.1

Adults are more likely to be infected with pertussis if you have a chronic lung conditions like asthma or COPD. 13-15

  • Adults with asthma have a 4x greater risk of whooping cough compared with people without asthma.15,16^
  • Adults with COPD have a 3.5x greater risk of whooping cough compared with those without COPD. 14,16^
  • People with lung conditions who contracted pertussis had to increase the use of their asthma or COPD medications*17

 

HELP PROTECT YOURSELF & THOSE AROUND YOU

Practicing good hygiene habits will help you reduce the risk of getting pertussis:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available
  • Avoid people who are sick or unwell

In addition, there are vaccines available for whooping cough. In Australia, the vaccination is given free via the National Immunisation Program to infants, children, adolescents and pregnant women. However the vaccine does not protect you for life and boosters may be required. The vaccine is given as a combination vaccine which protects against other diseases as well. 11

Talk to your health care practitioner about whooping cough and its prevention today.

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Commonly asked questions

What is whooping cough (pertussis)?

Whooping cough (also called pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Epidemics in Australia usually occur every 3 to 4 years.4

Whooping cough and its complications can be serious and even life-threatening to babies. About half of babies less than 1 year old who get whooping cough need care in the hospital. Sadly, 1 out of 100 babies hospitalised will die due to complications of whooping cough.5

In adults, whooping cough and complications are usually less severe, although can still result in hospitalisation, time off work and the risk of infecting vulnerable people. Adults account for half of whooping cough cases each year. 2,5

What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

Whooping cough usually begins like a cold. Early symptoms can last for 1 or 2 weeks and may include:

  • A blocked or runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Mild fever
  • A cough

The cough can gradually get worse and severe bouts of uncontrollable coughing can develop. Coughing bouts can be followed by vomiting, choking, or taking a big gasping breath, which causes a ‘whooping’ sound. The cough can last for many weeks and can be worse at night.2

Some newborns may not cough at all, but they can stop breathing and turn blue. Some babies have difficulties feeding and can choke or gag.2,5

The severity of symptoms may vary in adults. Scientific studies suggest that 1 in 20 adults with a prolonged cough have whooping cough.7

Complications of whooping cough are usually less serious in adults, especially if you have been vaccinated. In one study, the most common complications reported were:

  • Weight loss
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Rib fracture from severe coughing
  • Passing out5
Who is at risk of whooping cough?

Anyone can get whooping cough. While it is most dangerous to babies, it can still affect adolescents and adults. It’s important to remember that natural infection does not provide long-term protection and repeat infection can occur.4

Babies who are too young to be fully immunised are at increased risk of whooping cough. Some Australians, due to their age or circumstances, are at an increased risk of contracting the disease and are especially recommended to get vaccinated.1

These people include:

  • Babies
  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Healthcare workers
  • Early childcare workers
  • People in close contact with infants

The longer it’s been since you were last vaccinated, the more at risk you can be of contracting the disease if you are exposed to an infected person. As immunity diminishes over time, you can still get whooping cough even if you've been vaccinated previously.4

Talk to your health care practitioner about whooping cough and its prevention today.

How often is the whooping cough vaccine given?

The whooping cough vaccine is effective, but protection against whooping cough after vaccination reduces over time.4

If you are unsure whether you or your child needs to be immunised against whooping cough, visit your Healthcare Professional to find out when you were last immunised.

Vaccination against whooping cough is available through the National Immunisation Program for the following groups of people.

Babies and young children:

  • The vaccine is given at 2, 4, 6, 18 months and 4 years of age11

Adolescents

  • A booster dose is given through school programs at 12 to 13 years of age11
  • Adolescents who missed the school vaccination may be able to see their doctor to get the free vaccine11

Adults

  • Pregnant women between mid-2nd trimester and early 3rd trimester (between 20 and 32 weeks gestation) of each pregnancy. Vaccination during pregnancy protects the newborn, especially in the first 6 weeks of life, via antibodies that cross the placenta.11

Other

  • Eligible people under 20 years old and refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age can get a free catch-up vaccination. This is if they did not receive the vaccines in childhood and it is recommended to receive the vaccine.11

Talk to your health care practitioner about whooping cough and its prevention today.

If you’re an adult, do you need to get the whooping cough vaccine?

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends vaccination for any adults wishing to reduce their likelihood of illness from whooping cough. Vaccination is especially recommended for certain risk groups, or those in contact with risk groups, including1:

  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Healthcare workers
  • Early childcare workers
  • People in close contact with infants
  • Adults aged 65 years and over

Talk to your health care practitioner about whooping cough and its prevention today.

Sources & Citations

 

  1. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. Pertussis (whooping cough). Available at: Pertussis (whooping cough) | The Australian Immunisation Handbook (health.gov.au) (accessed 1 March 2024).
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Clinical features. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/features.html (accessed 1 March 2024). 
  3. National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard. Available at: Dashboard  · NINDSS Portal (health.gov.au) (accessed 1 March 2022).
  4. NCIRS. Pertussis vaccines for Australians factsheet. Available at: Pertussis factsheet June 2023.pdf (ncirs.org.au) (accessed 1 March 2024).
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Complications. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/complications.html (accessed 1 March 2024).
  6. The Geography of Transport Systems. Basic Reproduction Number (R0) of Major Infectious Diseases. Available at: https://transportgeography.org/?page_id=20352 (accessed 1 March 2024).
  7. Pimentel AM, et al. Braz J Infect Dis 2015;19(1):43–46.
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) | CDC. (accessed 1 March 2024).
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/prevention/index.html (accessed 1 March 2024).
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Treatment. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/treatment.html (accessed 1 March 2024).
  11. Australian Government Department of Health. National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule from 1 November 2023. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-immunisation-program-schedule?language=en
  12. Smartraveller.gov.au. Infectious diseases. Available at: Infectious diseases | Smartraveller (accessed 1 March 2024)
  13. Jenkins VA, Savic M, Kandeil W. Pertussis in high-risk groups: an overview of the past quarter-century. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020;16(11):2609-2617
  14. Blasi F, Bonanni P, Braido F, et al. The unmet need for pertussis prevention in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Italian context. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020;16(2):340-348.
  15. Liu BC, McIntyre P, Kaldor JM, et al. Pertussis in older adults: prospective study of risk factors and morbidity.Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55(11):1450-1456.
  16. Buck P O, Meyers JL, Gordon L-D, et al. Economic burden of diagnosed pertussis among individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the USA: an analysis of administrative claims. Epidemiol Infect. 2017;145:2109-2121.
  17. De Serres G, Shadmani R, Duval B, et al. Morbidity of pertussis in adolescents and adults. J Infect Dis. 2000;182(1):174-179.

MAT-AU-2400533-1.0. Date of Approval: March 2024

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