Whooping Cough

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.

In adults, whooping cough and its 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.

Symptoms of whooping cough generally appear between 7 and 20 days after infection, and infected people are most contagious up to about 21 days after the cough begins.

Did you know?

• Evidence indicates family members are the source of 50% of infant pertussis infections
• Whooping cough is one of the most contagious viral diseases in the world, as contagious as the measles and more contagious than chicken pox.

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.

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.

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

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 out

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 in 1 out of 3 adults
• loss of bladder control in 1 out of 3 adults 
• rib fracture from severe coughing in 1 out of 25 adults
• passing out in 3 out of 50 adults   

Whooping cough does however have a few distinctive traits. These traits are most observable 1 to 2 weeks after first being exposed. 

• Coughing fits that continue for long periods and are exhausting to the body. These coughing fits happen more at night. 
• Gasping for breath after a coughing fit. They may make a “whooping” sound. This sound is where the name “whooping cough” comes from. Babies may not cough or make this sound—they may gag and gasp.
• Difficulty breathing, eating, drinking, or sleeping because of coughing fits.
• Turning blue (while coughing) from lack of oxygen.
• Vomiting after coughing fits.