New Protection Against Whooping Cough By Louis Neipris, M.D., HealthAtoZ writer
Whooping cough starts out like a cold. It may be minor in teens and adults, but often leads to a chronic cough. This cough is sometimes confused with asthma or bronchitis. Also known as pertussis, whooping cough tends to be most severe in infants and children, and can lead to hospitalization or death. Recently, the number of whooping cough cases in adolescents and adults has increased. This is because immunities from their childhood vaccinations may have worn off. More cases are also being reported in infants and young children who haven't yet been fully immunized. The FDA has approved two new vaccines for adolescents and adults. The purpose is to protect older siblings and parents while preventing the infection from spreading to more vulnerable, younger family members. Signs and symptoms
- Early infection: Common cold symptoms, including runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, low-grade fever and dry cough.
- After one to two weeks: Cough that becomes more severe, producing a thick mucus. Coughing spells may last longer than one minute, and be interrupted by a "whoop" sound or vomiting. Infants may not cough or "whoop" at all, but may gasp for air and turn blue around the lips or red in the face. They may briefly stop breathing.
Whether or not your child has been immunized, call the doctor if:
- Your child has mild cold symptoms that won't go away, or has a dry cough.
- Your child comes in contact with someone who has a bad cough or symptoms of pertussis.
- The school nurse tells you that there is an outbreak of whooping cough in your area.
Go to the nearest emergency room if your child:
- Is having trouble breathing.
- Turns red or blue in the face.
- Has a coughing fit followed by a "whoop" sound or vomiting.
Prevention Make sure your child is immunized. The DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) vaccine is given in five doses before the child's sixth birthday, on the following schedule:
- A dose at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.
- A pre-school booster at 15 to 18 months.
- A second booster between 4 to 6 years of age.
- The new booster between the ages of 11 and 18.
If you or your older child develops whooping cough, there's a good chance that your younger child, if not fully immunized, will also get sick. Children who have been immunized may not be completely protected by the vaccine. To prevent the infection from spreading and to shorten its course, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics for everyone in the family, whether or not they've been immunized. Other measures you can take to prevent infection include:
- Covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Washing your hands frequently.
- Wearing a surgical mask if you have a cough.
Treatment Cough syrup can't completely suppress whooping cough, which is treated with antibiotics and bed rest. Antibiotics work best if given before a coughing spell begins. Everyone - including all household contacts - should take antibiotics, usually for about two weeks, and all antibiotics should be completed. The following treatment tips can be helpful:
- Use a cool-mist vaporizer to loosen secretions.
- Keep your home free of irritants like smoke and aerosol sprays.
- Keep your child hydrated with small sips of water and fruit juice.
- Feed your child small, frequent meals.
Sources: Ward, J. I., Cherry, J. D., Chang, S.-J., et al. Efficacy of an acellular pertussis vaccine among adolescents and adults. New England J of Medicine. 2005; 253:1555-1563. Nemours Foundation American Academy of Pediatrics National Institutes of Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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