Shortness of BreathTearing and Drooling (in Babies)Vomiting This may occur during or after coughing fits.Choking Spells (in Babies)Skin Turning Blue While Coughing Lips, the tongue, and nail beds may also turn blue.Extremely Rapid Coughing This is often followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound. Coughing worsens as the illness progresses, often peaking at night. Note that milder versions of the disease mean teenagers and adults might not experience the “whoop.”
Infants Under 2 Months Old The youngest babies are also the most vulnerable to whooping cough and its complications. Not only are their immune systems still developing, but young babies cannot start receiving their whooping cough vaccinations until they’re 2 months old. Until then, they only have their mother’s antibodies to project them. (This, of course, is only if mom got her whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy.)
Babies Under 6 Months Old These children are at high risk for complications from whooping cough, including pneumonia, notes the CDC.
Babies Under 12 Months Old According to the CDC, about half of babies younger than 1 year old who contract whooping cough end up hospitalized.
Kids Under 6 Years Old Children don’t receive their final whooping cough vaccine booster shot until somewhere between the ages of 4 and 6, says the CDC.
Teenagers and Adults The whooping cough vaccine administered in childhood eventually wears off, leaving teenagers and adults susceptible during an outbreak.
Nose or Throat Culture Here, a healthcare professional takes a sample of mucus from the back of the nose or throat to examine under a microscope. Results can take up to seven days. In most cases, this test is very effective, but often fails to detect whooping cough after several weeks of illness.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing Here, mucus samples are retrieved from the back of the nose or throat. PCR testing zeroes in on the presence of specific DNA, notes the CDC.Blood Tests A physician may order a white blood cell (cells that help the body fight infection) count to help determine if an infection or inflammation is present, notes the Mayo Clinic.Chest X-Ray This can detect inflammation or fluid in the lungs, which can point to pneumonia, a complication of whooping cough.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Using a cool-mist vaporizer to help loosen mucus and soothe irritated lungs and coughEating small, frequent meals to help prevent vomitingDrinking plenty of water to avoid dehydrationKeeping your home free from irritants like smoke, dust, or chemical fumes that irritate the lungs
Prevention of Whooping Cough
Getting vaccinated is the number one way to prevent whooping cough. According to the CDC, children who haven’t received their DTaP vaccines are at least 8 times more likely to get sick than those who’ve received all five doses of that vaccine. (DTaP vaccines prevent against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.) Right now, there are two available vaccines that do the job in the United States: DTaP for children under 7 years old and Tdap for adolescents and adults. (Tdap is the name for the one-shot vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis that’s given to people 11 years and older.) Here’s who should get shots and when:
Infants and Young Children Babies should receive their first whooping cough vaccination at 2 months old, followed by a second and third dose at 4 months and 6 months. The fourth vaccination should be administered between 15 and 18 months, followed by the fifth and final shot between 4 and 6 years old, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.At least 90 percent of kids are fully protected after getting all five doses of DTaP, per the CDC.
Preteens and Teens DTaP’s ability to prevent whooping cough slowly decreases over time. For instance, if a child received her last DTaP at age 6, by the age of 11, that child’s chance of being fully protected hovers at 70 percent. As such, the CDC recommends that all children between the ages of 11 and 12 get a booster shot of the Tdap vaccine.
Adults 19 and Older Didn’t get the Tdap booster as a teen? You’ll want to make sure you get it now. In addition, a single Tdap dose should be given to adults who are in contact with infants as well as healthcare workers, according to the CDC.
Pregnant Women The CDC recommends that all pregnant women get a Tdap shot between the 27th and 36th week of each pregnancy. This way, you create protective antibodies to pass onto the baby before birth, helping to provide short-term protection against whooping cough and the related complications, notes the CDC.Doing so lowers the risk of contracting whooping cough by about 91 percent during the first two months of baby’s life, according to the 2017 report in the journal Pediatrics.
No vaccine is 100 percent effective, but it is the very best protection available. Plus, if an individual does contract whooping cough after getting the vaccines, they are less likely to experience a serious infection.
Are immunocompromisedHave moderate to severe asthmaWork in neonatal intensive care units, childcare settings, maternity wardsAre infants younger than a year, particularly those who are younger than 4 monthsWomen in the third trimester of pregnancy
Here you’ll find all the vetted and trusted info on whooping cough that you could possibly need. The CDC is also a great place to learn about all childhood vaccinations, with helpful videos and schedules that can help you stay on schedule for these potentially life-saving shots. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) There are 67,000 pediatricians who are members of the AAP, a leading national voice on children’s health. The parent-forward version of their website, called HealthyChildren.org, is a superb resource on all early childhood conditions, including chronic cough, whooping cough, and similar infections. There’s also the Symptom Checker, where parents can plug in various symptoms (like cough) to get specific tips about how to help and when to call the doctor.
