Whooping cough

Who's at risk of whooping cough

Whooping cough can affect people of any age, including:

babies and young children young babies under six months of age are at a particularly increased risk of complications of whooping cough
older children and adults it tends to be less serious in these cases, but can still be unpleasant andfrustrating
people who've had whooping cough before you're not immune to whooping coughif you've had it before, although it tends to be less severe the second time around
people vaccinated against whooping cough as a child protection from the whooping cough vaccine tends to wear off after a few years

You can get whooping cough if you come into close contact with someone with the infection.

A person with whooping cough is infectious from about six days after they were infected when they just have cold-like symptoms until three weeks after the coughing bouts start.

Antibiotic treatment can reduce the length of time someone is infectious.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for whooping cough

Introduction

Find out about the symptoms of whooping cough, who's at risk of the condition, when to get medical advice, and how it's treated.

Symptoms of whooping cough

The first symptomsof whooping cough aresimilar to those of a Cold , such asa runny nose,red and watery eyes,a sore throat , anda slightly raised temperature. Intensecoughing bouts start about a week

Who's at risk of whooping cough

Whooping cough can affect people of any age, including: babies and young children young babies under six months of age are at a particularly increased risk of complications of whooping cough old

When to get medical advice

See your GP orcall NHS 111 if you or your child: have symptoms ofwhooping cough havehad a cough for more than three weeks have a cough that is particularly severe or is getting worse Call 999 or

Treatment for whooping cough

Treatment for whooping cough depends on your ageand how long you've had the infection. Children under six months who are very ill and people with severe symptoms will usually be admitted to hospital

Stopping the infection spreading

If you or your child are taking antibiotics for whooping cough, you need to be careful not to spread the infection to others. Stay away from nursery, schoolor work until48 hours from the start of an

Vaccinations for whooping cough

There are three routine vaccinations that can protect babies and children from whooping cough: the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy this can protect your baby during the first few weeks of l

Complications of whooping cough

Babies and young children under six months are usually most severely affected by whooping cough. They're at anincreased risk of: dehydration breathing difficulties weight loss pneumonia an i

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