Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Whooping cough is caused by a kind of bacteria. It's named for the “whoop” sound people can make when gasping for air after coughing fits.source: ¹ Babies who get whooping cough can have dangerous complications, like pneumonia (lung infection), convulsions (uncontrolled shaking), encephalopathy (brain disease), and death.source: ²

Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent whooping cough. Two vaccines include protection against whooping cough. The DTaP vaccine helps protect young kids from diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. The Tdap vaccine helps protect preteens, teens, and adults, including pregnant women, from tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.source: ³ Talk to your child's doctor to find out which is the best vaccine for your child.

Whooping cough is a respiratory illness that spreads easily from person to person. It usually starts off like a cold. People who have whooping cough may not know it and may be spreading it. Whooping cough can be deadly, especially for young babies.source: ³

One in 3 babies younger than 1 year old with whooping cough need to be hospitalized. And about 1 in 100 babies who are hospitalized will die.source: ¹ That's why it's especially important for pregnant women to get vaccinated and for babies to get their vaccines on time. Getting vaccinated while pregnant passes protection to the baby. This helps protect the baby before they’re old enough to get their own DTaP vaccine. It's also important for people who spend time with babies to be up to date on vaccines that protect against whooping cough. If your child is too young to be vaccinated or has not completed the series, then make sure everyone around them is up to date to help form a circle of protection around the baby.source: ⁴

Most kids don't have side effects from the vaccines, but your child might experience mild side effects that usually go away in a few days. They may include soreness, swelling, or redness where the vaccine was given; low fever and chills; feeling tired; throwing up; not feeling hungry; or fussing.source: ^5,source: ⁸

Rare side effects from the DTaP vaccine can include seizures (sudden, unusual movements or behavior) from having a high fever (about 1 child in 14,000).source: ⁶ Seizures related to high fevers (called “febrile seizures”) can be scary but are usually harmless. Other rare side effects include persistent crying for 3 hours or more (up to about 1 child in 1,000) and fever higher than 105°F (about 1 child in 16,000).source: ⁶