Patient education: Whooping cough in teens and adults (The Basics)

What is whooping cough? — 

This is an infection that causes a severe cough. It can spread easily from person to person. It is also called "pertussis."

Doctors recommend babies and children get the vaccine to prevent whooping cough. They also recommend:

●Most adults get 1 dose of the vaccine

●Pregnant people get 1 dose during each pregnancy

It's especially important to be vaccinated if you have a newborn or spend a lot of time around babies.

Teens and adults can get whooping cough if they did not get the vaccine. They can also get it if it has been a long time, usually 10 years, since they were vaccinated.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough? — 

Symptoms depend on how long you have had the infection:

●Early on, whooping cough usually causes sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, and other cold symptoms. It also causes a mild cough.

●After 1 to 2 weeks, the cold symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse. People have severe coughing attacks. Sometimes, they cough so hard they vomit or pass out.

Whooping cough gets its name because many people, especially babies and children, make a "whoop" sound when they breathe in after a coughing attack. But not everyone makes this noise.

●After 2 to 6 weeks, the cough starts to get better. But it can take weeks to months for the cough to go away completely.

Symptoms are often more severe in babies and children, and milder in teens and adults.

Sometimes, whooping cough can lead to other problems, such as:

●Pneumonia (lung infection)

●Ear infection

●A broken rib, hernia, or back pain from coughing so hard

Will I need tests? — 

Maybe. Your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have whooping cough by talking with you, hearing your cough, and doing an exam.

They might also do tests, like:

●Testing a sample of mucus from the back of your nose or throat

●Blood tests

●Chest X-ray

How is whooping cough treated? — 

Treatment depends on several things, including the person's health and how long they have had a cough. Some people get antibiotics. These can help the infection get better faster and keep it from spreading to others.

People living with the infected person might also need to take antibiotics, even if they aren't sick. This can help keep them from getting the infection, too.

What can I do on my own to feel better? — 

You should:

●Get plenty of rest.

●Drink lots of fluids.

●Eat small meals to avoid vomiting after coughing.

●Avoid smoking and being around people who are smoking.

How can I prevent spreading whooping cough? — 

You should:

●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 had it.

●Stay home from work or school until the doctor or nurse says it's OK to return. If you work with young children or babies, do not go back to work until you have been on antibiotics for 5 days.

What if I am pregnant? — 

If you are pregnant and get whooping cough, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. This will help you get better faster. It will also lower the risk of passing the infection on to your baby after birth.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call the doctor or nurse if you have whooping cough and:

●Feel short of breath

●Get a high fever

●Vomit over and over again

●Get dehydrated – This is when the body loses too much water. It can make you feel thirsty, tired, dizzy, or confused and have dark yellow urine.

You should also call the doctor or nurse if you think someone in your home might have whooping cough. That way, they can get treatment as soon as possible.

More on this topic

Patient education: Whooping cough in babies and children (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines and pregnancy (The Basics)
Patient education: Acute bronchitis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Tdap vaccine (The Basics)
Patient education: Isolation precautions (The Basics)

Patient education: Chronic cough in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccination during pregnancy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Acute bronchitis in adults (Beyond the Basics)