Whooping Cough and the Vaccine

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 18,617 cases of whooping cough in 2019. Before the whooping cough vaccine was readily available in the early 1940s, pertussis killed 5,000 to 10,000 people each year in the United States.

It still primarily affects children too young to be vaccinated and can be deadly for infants. While adults with pertussis typically experience only mild symptoms, statistics show half of all infants infected with pertussis become hospitalized. One in four will develop pneumonia, while one in 100 babies will die from the complications associated with the disease.

Infants younger than six months old have the highest fatality rate from pertussis. Mothers who receive the Tdap vaccine (generally in the third trimester) can transfer anti-pertussis antibodies through their placenta to the baby in utero. This protection lasts until babies can be vaccinated at 8 weeks old. However, the CDC also recommends the Tdap vaccine for fathers, siblings, extended family members, caregivers or anyone who may come in close contact with the newborn. Once discharged from the hospital, the vaccination “cocoon” helps ensure newborns are safe from pertussis during their first few months of life.

Mild symptoms of whooping cough can mirror those of the common cold, making it difficult for a healthcare professional to diagnose the disease accurately. Symptoms may include watery eyes, mild fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, low-grade fever and a persistent, sometimes uncontrollable, hacking cough. Pertussis can quickly develop into a more severe condition with additional symptoms, such as vomiting, spikes in fever, extreme fatigue and a high-pitched “whooping” sound when inhaling between coughs if left untreated. Whooping cough can last for up to 10 weeks.

A person should seek immediate medical attention if prolonged coughing spells last for more than a few days and avoid contact with young infants or children. Whooping cough is highly contagious.

A doctor will likely take mucus and blood samples to determine if you have pertussis, but a chest X-ray might also be conducted. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics, but running a cool-mist vaporizer and drinking plenty of fluids can also help ease symptoms. However, the CDC reports that DTaP vaccines are 80% to 90% effective, so the best medicine is prevention.

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