Whooping cough, caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis, is highly contagious especially in infants and young children. Cases are on the rise in Wisconsin. In 2023, Children’s Wisconsin saw a total of six cases of pertussis. In the first half of 2024, we saw 36. What is pertussis? Why have cases risen so much in 2024? And how can parents help protect their children from it?
At Children’s Wisconsin, managing and treating infectious diseases is part of what we do every day. We are here to help and can answer some of your questions. Here are the basics on pertussis, commonly referred to as “whooping cough."
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough often starts off as a common cold for the first week or two. It then rapidly progresses and produces a “whooping” noise. In this phase, it can last two weeks or more and can cause shortness of breath and bluish undertones near a child’s mouth and lips. This can further lead to tears, drool and/or vomiting. In rare and untreated cases, whooping cough can be fatal.
Especially with infants, whooping cough can be more severe. Infants may experience episodes in which they stop breathing or vomit after coughing fits. Due to their more vulnerable immune systems, they may also become susceptible to other complications, such as pneumonia, infections or seizures.
What are symptoms of whooping cough?
In its early stages (between the first and second weeks), whooping cough can present itself as a common cold. Often, children are not diagnosed with it until later symptoms develop between the second and sixth weeks.
Early symptoms include:
- Stuffed or runny nose
- Mild cough
- Low-grade fever
Later symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Vomiting after coughing fits
- High-pitched “whooping” noise while inhaling
- Difficulty sleeping at night
When should you call your doctor with whooping cough concerns?
You should call your family doctor or pediatrician if your child has the above later symptoms, specifically noting the high-pitched “whooping” cough. If you are unsure about your child’s symptoms, consider an urgent care video visit or make an appointment with your pediatrician.
Seek immediate medical attention if:
- Coughing fits become more frequent or severe
- Lips or fingertips turn blue
- Child is frequently vomiting after coughing fits
What are some treatment options for whooping cough?
Typically, whooping cough is treated with antibiotics. If given early enough in the illness, antibiotics may improve symptoms. However, if given later in the illness, antibiotics will only prevent the spread of the infection, but not treat the cough itself.
To alleviate some of these symptoms at home, consider the following:
- Use a cool-mist vaporizer to soothe cough and loosen mucus
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Get plenty of rest
How can you protect yourself or your children from whooping cough?
Whooping cough mainly spreads person to person from coughing, sneezing or breathing. It can also be spread through germs on surfaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whooping cough can be spread as soon as symptoms begin and for two weeks after coughing starts.
The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get the DTaP vaccination for young children and Tdap vaccination for preteens and pregnant women.
Children should receive DTaP immunizations at two months, four months, and six months of age. Booster shots are recommended at twelve to eighteen months and at school age or 4-5 years old. Maintaining this schedule is important to ensure effectiveness and limit side-effects, as you can read about in this blog post by my colleague. According to the CDC, the vaccination is highly effective with 98 percent of children being protected within a year following their last dose.
Ask your pediatrician for more information regarding vaccinations and boosters.
Where can I find more information?
Your pediatrician is here to support you and answer any questions you have. You can also find more information about whooping cough on the CDC website.
