Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious disease that can be deadly for babies. Whooping cough can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing, which often makes it hard to breathe. Its “whooping” name comes from the sharp breath intake sound right after a coughing fit. In babies, this disease also can cause life-threatening pauses in breathing with no cough at all. Whooping cough is especially dangerous to babies who are too young to be vaccinated themselves. Mothers should get the whooping cough vaccine during each pregnancy to pass some protection to their babies before birth. It is very important for your baby to get the whooping cough vaccine on time so he can start building his own protection against the disease. Since 2010, between 15,000 and 50,000 cases of whooping cough were reported each year in the United States, with cases reported in every state.

HOW IS WHOOPING COUGH SPREAD?

The bacteria that cause whooping cough spread easily through the air when a person who has whooping cough breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Almost everyone who is not immune to whooping cough will get sick if exposed to it. A person can spread the disease from the very beginning of the sickness and for at least 2 weeks after coughing starts. Since symptoms can be mild for some people, a baby can catch whooping cough from adults, grandparents, or older brothers or sisters who don’t know they have the disease.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Whooping cough usually starts with the following symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Low-grade fever (less than 100.4 degrees)
• Mild cough (babies do not do this)
• Apnea (life-threatening pause in breathing in babies) and cyanosis (turning blue or purple) in babies and young children

Children and babies may then begin to develop these more serious problems:

• Coughing very hard, over and over.
• Gasping for breath after a coughing fit. They may make a “whooping” sound. Babies may not cough or make this sound—they may gag, gasp, or stop breathing.
• Difficulty breathing, eating, drinking, or sleeping.
• Turning blue from lack of oxygen.
• Vomiting after coughing fits.

Coughing fits can last for up to 10 weeks or more, and sometimes happen again the next time the child has a respiratory illness.

WHEN IS THE VACCINE GIVEN?

It is recommended a child get the first dose when they are 2 months old. A baby will need 2 more doses after that, given at 4 months and 6 months, to build up high levels of protection. They will then need booster shots at ages 15 through 18 months and 4 through 6 years to maintain that protection.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE SHOT?

Most children don’t have any side effects from DTaP or Tdap. The side effects that do occur with DTaP are usually mild, and may include:

• Soreness or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever
• Fussiness
• Feeling tired
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting

More serious side effects are very rare but with DTaP can include:

• A fever over 105 degrees
• Nonstop crying for 3 hours or more
• Seizures (jerking, twitching of the muscles, or staring)

The side effects from Tdap are usually mild, and may include:

• Pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
• Mild fever
• Headache
• Feeling tired
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomachache

Some preteens and teens might faint after getting Tdap or any other shot.