😮💨 Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
PH
PureHealthness Editorial Team · Health writers & reviewers
📝 Last reviewed: August 2026
✔ Transparent sourcing · Some articles are AI-drafted, then reviewed & fact-checked by our team
📝 Last reviewed: August 2026
| In brief | Severe, uncontrollable coughing fits followed by a high-pitched "whoop" sound during inhalation. |
|---|---|
| Category | Respiratory |
🔍 What causes it
Bordetella pertussis bacteria — highly contagious, spread by droplets. Most dangerous for infants under 6 months (can stop breathing). Immunity from vaccine/illness fades — boosters matter.
⚠️ Key symptoms
- 1-2 weeks of cold-like symptoms, then
- Fits of uncontrollable coughing ending in the "whoop"
- Vomiting after coughing fits
- Cough persisting for weeks to months
💊 Treatment
Antibiotics (early — reduces spread), rest, fluids, and monitoring breathing — infants often need hospital care. The DTaP/Tdap vaccine (childhood series + adult boosters, especially for pregnant women) is the key prevention.
🛡️ Prevention
Vaccination — including the pregnancy booster that passes protection to the newborn.
🚨 See a doctor / red flags: See a doctor promptly if symptoms are severe, do not improve, or get worse — especially for children, older adults, pregnant women, or anyone with a chronic condition.
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