Whooping cough affects people of all ages. It can be especially serious for babies. Vaccination reduces the risk of infection and severe illness. It is very important for pregnant women to be vaccinated during each pregnancy to protect the baby in its first months of life. Treatment for whooping cough is available.
Whooping cough is a serious respiratory infection. It is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is also called pertussis.
Whooping cough is very infectious and spreads easily from one person to another. It affects people of all ages and can be life-threatening in babies. Children and adults generally don’t get as sick, but can pass it on to babies who are at higher risk.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you or your child are unwell and you’re not sure where to go. healthdirect is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days. A nurse will answer your call, ask some questions and connect you with the right care.
Call Triple Zero (000) or go to a hospital emergency department immediately if your child has difficulty breathing or turns blue.
Whooping cough is very infectious. It is spread in the air as droplets, usually by coughing or sneezing. This means it spreads easily from one person to another and through families, childcare centres and schools.
A person with whooping cough can pass it on to others as soon as they get cold-like symptoms. People are usually infectious for three weeks after their cough starts, unless they take antibiotics early in their illness.
Pregnant people who get whooping cough in the last month of pregnancy may also pass it onto their baby.
The best protection against whooping cough infection is vaccination. This protection drops off over time which means boosters are needed.
A vaccine for pregnant women is available through GPs and hospital antenatal clinics during each pregnancy. This vaccine is free.
The whooping cough vaccine can be received any time between 20 and 32 weeks.
This vaccine is important as it also protects the baby until they can have their own vaccine.
Pregnant women who have not been vaccinated during pregnancy, should have the vaccine as soon as possible after giving birth. This will reduce their risk of getting whooping cough and spreading it to their baby.
Please see protect your newborn from whooping cough for further information.
A whooping cough booster is recommended for:
Your doctor may ask about you or your child’s symptoms and whether there has been any contact with someone who has whooping cough.
If your doctor thinks you have whooping cough, a swab from the back of the nose or throat can confirm the diagnosis.
If you or your child have been in contact with someone who has whooping cough but do not have any symptoms, you do not need to get tested.
Antibiotics are used to treat whooping cough in the early stages of the infection (the first 3 weeks) and can help prevent the spread to others. After 5 days of antibiotics, people are no longer infectious.
The cough often continues for many weeks, even if treated with antibiotics. Early treatment may make the illness less serious and will reduce how long people with whooping cough are infectious.
Some babies may need treatment in hospital. Some might require intensive care.
Older children do not usually have a life-threatening illness and rarely need treatment in hospital.
Adults generally do not require treatment in hospital. But some older people may develop pneumonia and people who smoke or have asthma may also require further treatment.
People who have been diagnosed with whooping cough should take these steps to help protect others:
Parents who have a child with whooping cough can help reduce the risk of it spreading through their household by:
Anyone who has been in contact with someone who has whooping cough should monitor for symptoms and talk to their doctor if symptoms develop.
If you have concerns, please contact your doctor or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
Whooping cough is a notifiable disease in NSW.
Doctors, pathology providers and certain services, such as schools, childcare centres and aged care facilities, may need to inform their local public health unit of any cases of whooping cough.
This helps to identify outbreaks of whooping cough. It also means NSW Health can provide you and the community advice on how to stop the spread of whooping cough.
Information will remain confidential.