What Is Whooping Cough?

Once a rare occurrence, pertussis or whooping cough cases are now on the rise. It can be dangerous in vulnerable populations, especially young babies.

“I think a lot of people think it’s just a cough,” said Magna Dias, MD, chair of Pediatrics at Bridgeport Hospital, Regional Medical Director for Inpatient Pediatric Services at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and professor of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine. “Unfortunately, it is something that 1% of infants who have this disease will die from. We previously didn't see it that often, but we have had several children with this outbreak who have been hospitalized.”

Dr. Dias says we are seeing an increased number of cases due to a decline in vaccination rates that started during the height of the COVID pandemic. Some children fell behind in their vaccination schedule and the spread of misinformation has led to decreased vaccine acceptance overall. However, vaccination is the best way to protect people from getting it.

Symptoms for whooping cough

A highly contagious bacterium causes pertussis. In older kids, the classic symptom is a prolonged cough that sounds like a ‘whoop,’ hence the name. It is the most dangerous for kids under 1, who may not get a cough. Instead, they may have fever, runny nose and will just stop breathing.

Caregivers may confuse symptoms with croup, which is caused by a virus. Croup also presents with cough and difficulty breathing. However, it is more likely for croup to resolve quickly.

“One of the big differences between the two is the amount of time for which you are contagious after you get it. For kids who have croup, it’s generally a few days. Once you stop having fevers, you are usually not spreading it,” said Dr. Dias. “With pertussis, you can actually spread it for a few weeks, and we call it the 100-day cough because it can last 100 days.”

Anytime a child has difficulty breathing, a high fever of 103 or above, or if a baby under 3 months has a fever, caregivers should call their pediatrician right away for guidance.

Treatments for whooping cough

If given early, antibiotics may make the illness less severe, but unfortunately most don't realize they have pertussis until later. However, antibiotics may still be given to help prevent the spread of illness.

The best way to prevent infection in the first place is to get vaccinated. In kids under 6-years-old, the DTaP vaccine helps to protect against whooping cough as well as tetanus and diphtheria. Preteens can get a Tdap booster that helps improve immunity. A booster is also important for anyone who has not gotten a vaccine in 10 years and in pregnant patients because it helps protect their baby.

“Even an older child who is unvaccinated, they still can go now and become vaccinated. It is something that I would highly recommend, especially because we are in a pertussis outbreak in the state of Connecticut and in the country,” said Dr. Dias.

In addition to vaccination, Dr. Dias says it’s a good idea for families to get into the habit of frequent hand washing or hand sanitizing, especially as kids head back to school or daycare.