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Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly infectious disease caused by bacteria. It is more common in children under 5 years old and can have serious consequences for those affected. It can still affect older children and adults, because protection from previous immunisations decreases with time.
The disease is spread by coughing and sneezing or direct contact with infected secretions from the nose or mouth. After the person has been infected it usually takes 7 to 10 days (but can be as long as 21 days) for the illness to develop (the incubation period). This means that there will be no symptoms of an illness within this time.
If you have whooping cough you are infectious from 7 days after being exposed to the illness, and up until 3 weeks after severe coughing attacks began. Children with whooping cough should stay at home during this time.
Some children with whooping cough can be treated at home if their symptoms are not too severe. Others, especially babies less than 6 months old, need hospital care.
In the first stage of whooping cough, which may last 1 to 2 weeks, symptoms can resemble those of a common cold and include a runny or blocked nose, red and watery eyes, a dry cough (particularly at night), loss of appetite and tiredness. There may also be a mild fever, but not always.
In the second stage of whooping cough, which may last 6 weeks or more, symptoms worsen, with severe coughing attacks that may bring up thick mucus. The coughing attacks, which are often worse at night, may end with a ‘whoop’ as the child takes a breath. Choking on the mucus can cause vomiting. Older children and adults may not have a ‘whoop’, but will have coughing spells. Severe coughing fits may also result in small bleeds under the skin and in whites of the eyes, and bruised or even broken ribs.
The third stage of whooping cough is when the coughing starts to subside. Sometimes coughing attacks may start again, months later, if the child gets another respiratory infection, such as a cold.
Complications that can develop from whooping cough include pneumonia and middle ear infections, which require treatment with antibiotics. Sometimes children can suffer from convulsions, or fitting, if their coughing is very severe and not enough oxygen is getting to their brain.
Epidemics of whooping cough occur about every 3 to 5 years. The Immunise Australia program includes a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, which is vital for protection from the disease. This vaccine is combined with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines and given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, and a booster is given at 4 years old. Children who have been vaccinated can still get whooping cough but it will usually be much milder than for a child who has not been vaccinated. A booster vaccination is recommended at 15 to 17 years of age, though this is not government funded.
Unvaccinated children are much more likely to develop complications if they do get whooping cough. A severe case of whooping cough or pneumonia can sometimes be fatal, especially in babies under 6 months old. There are very few known reasons why a child should not have the vaccine.
In addition, a single booster dose of adult formulation pertussis vaccine (dTpa) is recommended for all adults planning a pregnancy, for both parents as soon as possible after delivery of an infant, and for grandparents and other carers of young children.
Meningitis is a medical emergency that can cause permanent disability and death. It involves the inflammation of the meninges, which is the membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is a different infection from whooping cough, but as there can be some similar symptoms, it is important for parents to be aware of the signs. It is important to be aware that the meningitis vaccination available does not cover all types of meningitis, and a rash does not always appear. Meningitis can affect infants, children and adults.
Meningitis can occur very suddenly and requires immediate medical treatment: see a doctor urgently or call 000 for an ambulance.
For more information about meningitis, see the link in Related Health Information below.
[GENERAL SALE]
e.g. paracetamol: packets of 24 or fewer (Panadol range); aspirin (Aspro range, Disprin range); ibuprofen: packets of 24 or fewer (Advil, Nurofen range)
[PHARMACY ONLY]
e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen: larger pack sizes; paracetamol liquid preparation (Panadol (Children), Dymadon); ibuprofen liquid preparations (Nurofen for Children, Dymadon)
If you are concerned about your child there is a national 24-hour health advice helpline and also parenting helplines in each state and territory:
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State and Territory Helplines:
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Last Reviewed: 18 December 2009
