3 facts about whooping cough and tips to stop its spread

Child coughing — A “whooping” sound with coughing in a child or a lingering cough in an adult can be signs of a pertussis infection.

We’re seeing more people with whooping cough. The number of cases reported across the U.S. so far this year is 17,579 cases, which is more than four times higher than the 3,962 cases reported during the same time last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Public health specialists have also been tracking an uptick in cases this year in other parts of the world, including Croatia, the Netherlands, France, Spain, the U.K. In some locations, the numbers are 10 times higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial infection named after the characteristic sound children make when coughing. Because they have smaller throats and airways, children with pertussis may gasp for breath, creating a frightening high-pitched “whoop” with each breath. Left untreated, pertussis can be fatal in infants and people who are immunocompromised.

Most people who were born in the U.S. or had a baby here have been offered or given a pertussis vaccine at some point in their life. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all pregnant patients get the Tdap vaccine – which covers tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis – during pregnancy. Tdap is also part of the series of regular childhood vaccinations.

But like the flu shot, one Tdap vaccine doesn’t last forever. If adults lapse on their boosters or opt out of vaccinating their children, we’ll continue seeing three- to five-year cyclical spikes of whooping cough in the U.S. For example, as of this time last year, there were 230 reported cases in Texas. As of Oct. 5, 2024, we’ve seen nearly three times that number with 676 cases.

The big question is, do we need to worry about an impending whooping cough epidemic? Probably not. Recent cases are localized to small geographic areas, and safe, effective vaccines and treatments are readily available. But some people are at higher risk of catching or spreading pertussis.

Let’s discuss some facts about pertussis and the easy steps you should take to stay well and help prevent serious illness in your community.

1. Pertussis is more serious than just a cough

Risks for babies

- Secondary bacterial pneumonia

- Dehydration

- Loss of appetite

- Seizures

- Fluid on the brain

- Death

At first, a case of whooping cough may feel like an annoying cold virus or a mild case of COVID-19. Unlike a viral infection, however, pertussis is a bacterial infection that may take time for your immune system to fight off.

The slight cough may turn into arduous coughing fits that leave babies and children gasping for breath. In adults, untreated whooping cough can last for weeks or even months. Patients with compromised lung function are highly vulnerable to complications.

More than half of babies less than 1 year old who get whooping cough require hospitalization. Pertussis infection can cause serious complications in babies.

2. Whooping cough is highly infectious

Whooping cough has a few things in common with COVID-19. First, it can spread like wildfire and is mostly spread by respiratory droplets. A simple sneeze or cough or even breathing close to someone is enough to send respiratory droplets through the air and spread the infection.

Second, whooping cough has a long incubation period – up to 21 days. That means you could be spreading the infection for weeks before any symptoms appear, if they show up at all.

If you or a family member has a worsening or persistent cough or if you hear unusual sounds with your child’s cough, talk with your health care provider right away. To contain the spread, follow the simple hygiene tips we all were reminded of during the pandemic to reduce the spread:

Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water
Avoid excessively touching your face
Stay home when you are sick
Get vaccinated if you are due for a Tdap booster

adult coughing — If you have a persistent cough, be sure to visit your health care provider.

3. Tdap vaccine is safe and effective

Up to the mid-1940s, about 8,000 people died of whooping cough each year in the U.S. Thanks to improvements in vaccines and public health knowledge, that statistic has dropped to less than 20 deaths per year. Pertussis-related deaths typically occur in newborns who are too young to start the recommended vaccine schedule.

The more people who are vaccinated, the safer our most vulnerable neighbors will be. The CDC recommend the following Tdap vaccine schedule:

Children should get five doses of the DTaP vaccine by age 6. This usually starts at 2 months old, building immunity to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.
Adolescents and adults need a Tdap booster at age 11 and then every 10 years after. This is a similar combination vaccine but with lower doses for diphtheria and pertussis.
Pregnant patients should get a Tdap vaccination during every pregnancy, usually between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. This allows antibodies to pass through the placenta, protecting the newborns until they’re old enough to get their own vaccines.

The risks are minimal, and mild side effects like a sore arm fade quickly. If you plan to travel this summer or over the holidays, talk with your health care provider about whether you are up to date on your Tdap vaccine.

Pertussis is easy to treat, but that’s not enough

Because whooping cough is bacterial and not viral, we can prescribe the accessible and affordable antibiotic azithromycin (Zithromax or the Z-pak) to treat infection in children, teens, and adults. Newborns almost always need to be hospitalized for respiratory support. The long incubation and diagnosis period widens the gap between initial infection and symptom onset. Even after a course of antibiotics, the cough may continue for several weeks.

The best way to avoid a serious pertussis outbreak is for everyone to do your part up front: Get the recommended vaccinations, stay home when you are sick, and wash your hands regularly.

To get the Tdap vaccine or talk with a respiratory care expert, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.