Few seasonal illnesses are as frightening – or as preventable – as whooping cough. Severe coughing fits, difficulty breathing, and the high-pitched whooshing sound some people make when breathing in after a coughing fit are all tell-tale symptoms of this nasty infection, also known as whooping cough.
Fortunately, whooping cough can be prevented by a series of vaccines that many people receive during early childhood: DTaP (for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough). Another version of this vaccine, TDaP, is also commonly given to older children and adults. These two vaccines, along with several others, are very effective at preventing the disease.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there has been a slight decline in vaccinations to prevent whooping cough, and that the incidence of whooping cough is on the rise. “Given the potential severity of whooping cough in infants, the increase in whooping cough incidence is of significant concern,” said Jason Nagata, MD, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects children and adults alike, but is more prevalent and worrisome in infants and young children. The infection primarily affects the upper respiratory system, “leading to severe, prolonged coughing attacks that can last for weeks or even months,” Nagata explains. “These attacks are characterized by intense coughing fits that momentarily make it difficult to breathe, sometimes followed by a high-pitched breathing sound that sounds like a ‘whoosh’.”
One reason the disease is so prevalent among infants is that they can’t be vaccinated until they’re at least 2 months old, meaning they can catch it from their parents, caregivers or other children before they’ve completed their series of shots. Infants are also at higher risk for more severe symptoms, such as breathing difficulties and other complications, Nagata said, and about half of infants require hospitalization. “In some cases, these complications can be life-threatening,” Nagata said. About 20 infants die from the infection each year in the United States, according to the CDC.
Although older children and adults are better able to avoid the worst outcomes than infants, “whooping cough is still a devastating experience,” says Dr. Andrew Pavia, director of the hospital epidemiology program at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
In fact, infected adults and teens can experience frequent interruptions to work, school or sleep, pneumonia, significant pain and discomfort, and coughing fits so severe they can cause vomiting, choking or broken ribs, Nagata said.
What causes whooping cough?
According to Pavia, whooping cough is caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis and a closely related bacterium called Bordetella parapertussis.
The infection spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, “which releases tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air and are inhaled by people nearby,” Nagata explains. Once inhaled, the bacteria attach to the lining of the airways and release toxins that damage tissue, leading to swelling and increased mucus production, he explains. “The combination of these factors causes the severe coughing that is characteristic of whooping cough,” he says.
To further complicate things, the disease is highly contagious, and infected people can spread the bacteria for weeks without even knowing they are infected.
How to prevent whooping cough
To prevent the spread of whooping cough, it’s important to practice good hygiene, such as washing your hands thoroughly and keeping your hands away from your mouth and nose, as well as avoiding close contact with others when you’re sick.
But the best way to prevent whooping cough is for “parents, caregivers and all those who have close contact with the infant to be up-to-date with the TDaP vaccine,” says Dr. Beth Nutt, chief of pediatrics at Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Atlantic Health System in New Jersey.
Pavia stresses the importance of whooping cough vaccination, saying children, especially infants, should be vaccinated as soon as they reach that age. “Pregnant women should also get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy to protect their babies during the first months of life,” he added.
If you or your child has whooping cough, Nagata says it’s important to start treatment as soon as possible. “Antibiotics are often prescribed to prevent the infection from spreading, but they don’t cure the cough itself,” he says. To speed healing and manage symptoms, he recommends getting plenty of rest, avoiding irritants that cause coughing, taking painkillers such as ibuprofen depending on age, drinking plenty of fluids, and using a cool-mist humidifier.
“If the cough persists and you or your child vomits, turns red or blue in the face, has trouble breathing, or hears a characteristic wheezing sound when breathing in, seek medical help,” she advises. “In the hospital, healthcare professionals can monitor your child’s breathing, clear his or her airway, and give him or her fluids to prevent dehydration.”