Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes about 5 to 10 days for symptoms to start. Sometimes it takes up to three weeks. The symptoms often are mild at first. They may seem like those of a common cold. They can include:

• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Red, watery eyes.
• Fever.
• Cough.

After a week or two, the symptoms become worse. Thick mucus builds up inside the airways. This causes rapid coughing that can't be controlled. The cough can last for weeks or months, and it may be worse at night. Intense coughing attacks may cause:

• Vomiting.
• A red or blue face.
• Extreme tiredness.
• A high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath of air.

People with mild illnesses often don't make the whooping sound. Sometimes, an ongoing hacking cough is the only symptom of whooping cough in teens and adults.

Many babies with the illness don't cough at all. Some babies and young children might.

• Gag or struggle to breathe.
• Have skin, lips or nails that turn blue or purple.
• Have life-threatening pauses in breathing called apnea.

Call your healthcare professional if ongoing coughing spells cause you or your child to:

• Vomit.
• Turn red, purple or blue.
• Breathe in with a whooping sound.
• Not drink enough fluid.

Call 911 or your local emergency number right away if you or your child seems to struggle to breathe. Also call for emergency care if you notice pauses in breathing.

A type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-filled droplets spray into the air. Anyone who happens to be nearby can breathe in the droplets. The bacteria that cause whooping cough also can spread when people are together for a long time. Or these germs can spread when people share breathing space, such as while holding a newborn on your chest.

The whooping cough vaccine you receive as a child wears off over time. This leaves many teenagers and adults prone to the infection during an outbreak. And regular outbreaks still happen.

Certain infants are most at risk for serious health problems and death from whooping cough. These include babies younger than 12 months old who are not vaccinated or haven't received all their vaccine doses.

Teens and adults often recover from whooping cough with no problems. When other health conditions happen, they tend to be side effects of intense coughing, such as:

• Bruised or cracked ribs.
• Tissue that bulges through a weak spot in the muscles of the stomach area, called an abdominal hernia.
• Broken blood vessels in the skin or the whites of the eyes.

Teens and adults also can have:

• Loss of bladder control.
• Weight loss.
• Fainting.

Infants

Health conditions that can happen with whooping cough are more serious in infants, especially those under 6 months of age. They can include:

• The lung infection pneumonia.
• Ear infection.
• Slowed or stopped breathing.
• Dehydration or weight loss due to trouble feeding.
• Seizures.
• Brain damage.

Infants and toddlers have the highest risk of other health conditions due to whooping cough. So, they're more likely to need treatment for these in a hospital. Health conditions due to whooping cough can be life-threatening for infants younger than 6 months old.

The best way to prevent whooping cough is with the pertussis vaccine. It's often given together with vaccines against two other serious diseases: diphtheria and tetanus. Healthcare professionals recommend starting vaccination during infancy.

The vaccine is a series of five shots. You might hear it called DTaP. It's most often given to children at these ages:

• 2 months.
• 4 months.
• 6 months.
• 15 to 18 months.
• 4 to 6 years.

Vaccine side effects

Most often, side effects of the vaccine are mild. They may include a fever, crankiness, headache, fatigue or soreness at the site of the shot.

Booster shots

Booster shots strengthen the body's defenses against whooping cough. They help protect against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. You might hear your healthcare professional call your booster shot Tdap. It's recommended for the following people.

• Pre-teens. Protection from the pertussis vaccine tends to fade by age 11. So, healthcare professionals recommend a shot of Tdap at 11 or 12 years old.
• Pregnant women. Health experts now recommend getting a shot of Tdap between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy. This also may give some protection to an infant during the first few months of life.
• Adults. Sometimes, Tdap is given instead of a booster shot for tetanus and diphtheria. The tetanus and diphtheria booster shot is recommended for adults every 10 years. If you're due for that shot and you've never received Tdap before, your healthcare professional likely will give you Tdap instead. That's because Tdap protects against all three diseases. In general, adults who never received the Tdap booster shot can get one at any time. It's key to make sure you're up to date on your shots at least two weeks before you get close to a baby. The vaccine lowers your risk of spreading whooping cough to infants.

Preventive medications

If you or your infant has been exposed to someone with whooping cough, talk with your healthcare professional. Medicines called antibiotics may be recommended to protect against infection if you:

• Are a healthcare professional.
• Are pregnant.
• Are younger than 12 months old.
• Have a health condition that could put you at risk of serious illness or complications. This includes conditions such as a weakened immune system or asthma.
• Live with someone who has whooping cough.
• Live with someone who is at high risk of serious illness or complications from a whooping cough infection. This includes babies and pregnant women.

It may take time to find out if you have whooping cough. The symptoms can seem like those of other common illnesses, such as a common cold or the flu.

Sometimes, healthcare professionals can determine that you have whooping cough by asking about your symptoms and doing a physical exam.

But you may need medical tests such as:

• A nose or throat culture and test. Your healthcare professional takes a mucus sample from the back of the throat, where the nose and throat meet. The sample is checked for signs of whooping cough bacteria.
• Blood tests. A blood sample may be taken and sent to a lab. The lab checks for certain proteins called antibodies that the body makes to fight infections. This is a general test and not specific for whooping cough.
• A chest X-ray. This test may be recommended to check for signs of pneumonia due to whooping cough.

Most often, infants need treatment in the hospital for whooping cough. That's because the illness is more dangerous for babies. If your child can't keep down liquids or food, fluids given through a vein may be needed. Your child is cared for away from others. This prevents the infection from spreading.

Treatment for older children and adults often can be given at home, since the illness tends to be milder.

Medications

Antibiotics kill the bacteria that causes whooping cough. When you take them early, they might make your illness less serious. They also may shorten the amount of time you're at risk of spreading the illness. If you live with other people, they may be given antibiotics to help prevent them from getting sick.

Not much is available to relieve the cough itself. Cough medicines that are sold without a prescription, for instance, do not help treat whooping cough. Do not take them unless your healthcare professional tells you to.

The following tips can help you deal with coughing spells while you recover from whooping cough at home:

• Get plenty of rest. A cool, quiet and dark bedroom may help you relax and rest better.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice and soups are good choices. Be aware of dehydration symptoms, especially if your child is sick. The symptoms include dry lips, crying without tears and urinating much less often.
• Eat smaller meals. To help prevent vomiting after coughing, eat smaller, more-frequent meals rather than large ones.
• Clean the air. Keep your home free of irritants that can trigger coughing spells. These include dust, tobacco smoke and fumes from fireplaces.
• Prevent the spread of whooping cough. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Throw away used tissues right away. Wash your hands often and for at least 20 seconds. If you must be around others, wear a mask.

Stay home from work or school until you've completed at least five days of treatment. If a young child is sick, keep the child home from daycare until finishing five days of treatment. If you don't get treatment, it's safest to stay away from others for three weeks after your symptoms start. Your body gets rid of the bacteria by then, even though you may still have symptoms.

If you think you or your child has whooping cough, make an appointment with a healthcare professional. Get emergency care for serious symptoms such as trouble breathing.

What you can do

Write a list that includes:

• Your symptoms, described in detail.
• Information about past medical problems.
• Dates of vaccinations.
• Information about the medical conditions of parents or siblings.
• Questions you want to ask your healthcare professional.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional gives you a physical exam and listens to your lungs. Questions your care professional may ask include:

• When did the cough start?
• How long does a coughing spell tend to last?
• Does anything trigger the cough?
• Does the cough ever cause gagging or vomiting?
• Has the cough ever caused your face to change color?
• Have you been exposed to anyone with whooping cough?