Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for whooping cough, also called "pertussis." This is an infection that causes a severe cough. It can spread easily from person to person.
Teens and adults can get whooping cough if they did not get the whooping cough vaccine, or if has been many years since they were vaccinated.
Early on, whooping cough usually causes symptoms of a cold, including a mild cough. After 1 to 2 weeks, the cold symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse. You might have severe coughing attacks. You might also make a "whoop" sound when you breathe in after a coughing attack.
Your symptoms will probably start to get better in a few weeks or so. But it can sometimes take months for the cough to go away completely.
The doctor might have given you antibiotics. If so, it is very important to finish all the medicine, even if you start to feel better.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Take all your medicines as instructed:
•If your chest hurts from coughing, you can take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
•Take over-the-counter cough medicines as needed.
●Get plenty of rest.
●Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
●Eat small meals to avoid vomiting after coughing.
●Quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help. Avoid being around people who are smoking.
●To help with cough:
•Try using a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air.
•Suck on cough drops or hard candy.
•Sip warm liquids.
•Take warm, steamy showers.
●To help prevent spreading the infection to others:
•Cover your mouth when you cough, or wear a mask when you are around other people.
•Wash your hands often.
•Make sure the other people in your home get the whooping cough vaccine if they haven't already.
•Stay home from work or school until the doctor says it's OK to go back. If you work with young children or babies, do not go back until you have been on antibiotics for 5 days or it has been at least 6 weeks since your cough started.
When should I get emergency help?
●Return to the ED if you:
•Have severe trouble breathing
•Cough up blood, or yellow or green mucus
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you:
●Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Have mild trouble breathing
●Vomit repeatedly
●Have new or worsening symptoms
Patient education: Whooping cough in teens and adults (The Basics)
