Whooping Cough Protection

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious infection that affects the airways. It can be prevented with a vaccine.

Pertussis is more serious in babies than in teens or adults. It may begin like a cold, with sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and mild fever. Vomiting is another symptom that occurs with the cough. Coughing is followed by a "whoop," as the person breathes in air. A lack of air at the end of a series of coughs may also cause the person to become unconscious.

A child with pertussis may have trouble eating, drinking, or even breathing because of the coughing. Pertussis can last for weeks. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and possibly death.

How to prevent it

The CDC currently recommends that all children get the pertussis vaccine.

The pertussis vaccine is part of a combination vaccine that also protects against diphtheria and tetanus. Children should receive five doses of the vaccine between ages 2 months and 6 years as part of their routine childhood shots.

The vaccine's protection usually wears off over the years. This means that teens and adults may develop whooping cough if exposed to it. If they become infected, they may have a severe cough that lasts for weeks or months. They may pass pertussis on to children who haven't yet received the entire vaccination series.

Two pertussis vaccines are available. One is for children ages 10 to 18 years, and the other is for people ages 11 to 64. Both also protect against tetanus and diphtheria.

The CDC recommends that children receive one vaccine booster at 11 to 12 years of age, and that adults replace one tetanus booster (recommended every 10 years) with the booster containing the pertussis vaccine.