July 17, 2025 | The infectious bacterial disease whooping cough gets its name from the noise people with the illness make when they take a breath after coughing uncontrollably. Before there was a vaccine, whooping cough was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of childhood deaths in the U.S. Today, whooping cough mainly affects children too young to have gotten all their shots of the vaccine. The illness, also known as pertussis, also tends to affect teenagers and adults whose protection from the vaccine has faded. In 2024, there were more than 35,000 cases of whooping cough in the United States, the highest in more than a decade. Ten people died, including six babies less than a year old. Whooping cough is considered an endemic disease, which means there are peaks in reported cases every few years. Outbreaks of this illness can occur in schools, child care centers, hospitals and large geographic areas.

July 17, 2025 | Whooping cough, the respiratory illness also known as pertussis, is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attach to the cilia, tiny, hair-like extensions that line part of the upper respiratory system. The bacteria release toxins that damage the cilia and cause airways to swell. When a person with whooping cough sneezes or coughs, they release small particles with the bacteria in them. Other people can then breathe in the bacteria. These bacteria can spread when people spend a lot of time together or share breathing space. People can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for at least two weeks after coughing begins. Some people have mild symptoms and don’t know they have whooping cough, but they can still spread the bacteria to others. Many babies who get whooping cough are infected by siblings, parents or caregivers who don’t know they have it.

July 17, 2025 | The first signs of whooping cough can be very similar to those of a common cold, sneezing, a mild cough and a low-grade fever. Dr. Robert Hopkins, director of the UAMS Division of General Internal Medicine, says after about one to two weeks, the mild cough may change into violent coughing spells that can make it hard to breathe. During a spell, a child may turn red or purple. At the end of a spell, the child might make the telltale “whooping” sound when breathing in or may vomit. Many babies and young kids with whooping cough have the coughing fits and “whoop” sound, but not all. Some may look as if they’re gasping for air, turn blue, and stop breathing for a short time, a condition called apnea. Adults and teens may have milder or different symptoms, such as a lasting cough rather than coughing spells or coughing without the whoop. Some, especially those not up to date on their vaccines, can develop more serious problems.

July 17, 2025 | Adolescents and adults who contract the respiratory illness whooping cough often recover with no problems. In some instances, there can be side effects from intense coughing such as bruised or cracked ribs and broken blood vessels in the skin or whites of the eyes. Some may suffer loss of bladder control, weight loss or fainting. Infants, particularly those under six months of age, face more serious complications as a result of whooping cough. They are likely to develop pneumonia, ear infections, seizures and even brain damage. In very young infants, the symptoms may be caused by pneumonia instead. You should see a health care professional as soon as possible if you suspect you or your child has whooping cough. The doctor will take a medical history and do an exam, which may include nose and throat mucus samples to be checked in a lab. They also might order blood tests and a chest X-ray.

July 17, 2025 | The best way to prevent whooping cough is with the pertussis vaccine. It’s often given together with vaccines against two other serious diseases, diphtheria and tetanus. Health care professionals recommend starting vaccination during infancy. The vaccine, which you might hear called DTap, is a series of five shots given to children as young as two months. Booster shots strengthen the body’s defenses against whooping cough. You might hear your physician call your booster shot Tdap. The booster is recommended for teens around 11 or 12, for pregnant women and adults who may be at risk for the disease. To help prevent the spread of whooping cough, wash your hands often with soap and water and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. Be sure to clean and disinfect surfaces that you frequently touch, including toys, and always cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve, not your hands.