Whooping cough (pertussis)

Whooping cough affects people of all ages. It can be especially serious for babies. Vaccination reduces the risk of infection and severe illness. It is very important for pregnant women to be vaccinated during each pregnancy to protect the baby in its first months of life. Treatment for whooping cough is available.

Large outbreaks of whooping cough usually occur every 3 to 4 years as population immunity decreases. Lower exposure to whooping cough during the COVID-19 pandemic is a likely reason for this current increase.

Advice for parents of newborns, infants and pregnant women

Newborn babies and infants are at greatest risk of severe illness from whooping cough. Newborns may not cough at all but stop breathing completely and turn blue. Other babies have difficulties feeding or they can choke and gag.

The on-time vaccination of babies and pregnant women is critical to their protection. Children should be vaccinated at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months and 4 years of age. NSW Health recommend pregnant women are vaccinated during each pregnancy between 20 to 32 weeks.

NSW Health encourages parents, carers, grandparents and other people in close contact with babies and young children to get vaccinated if they have not received one in the previous 10 years.

If you think you or a family member might have whooping cough

If you or your child’s situation is life-threatening, please call Triple Zero (000) or present to your nearest emergency department immediately.

If it’s not an emergency, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you or your child are unwell and you’re not sure where to go. healthdirect is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A nurse will answer your call, ask some questions and connect you with the right care.

If given early, antibiotics can reduce the duration of whooping cough symptoms. After 5 days of treatment with appropriate antibiotics, people with whooping cough are no longer infectious. Without treatment, they will remain infectious for 21 days. Antibiotics are rarely needed if it has been 3 weeks since cough onset.

For more information check the Whooping cough (pertussis) fact sheet from NSW Health.