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Whooping cough in babies and children
Key facts
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a bacterial infection.
Whooping cough is highly contagious (easily spread) and can be very serious for babies. Common signs of infection include flu-like symptoms followed by severe coughing episodes.
Vaccination is the best way to protect your baby from whooping cough.
What symptoms are related to whooping cough?
Whooping cough in babies and children has 3 phases:
- Stage 1 — a build-up of mucus with a runny nose, sneezing and mild cough. This lasts about one week.
- Stage 2 — coughing spells that can last for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Stage 3 — recovery as the cough becomes less frequent. This can take up to 3 months.
Whooping cough symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 days after infection.
A child with whooping cough is contagious in the first 1 to 2 weeks of infection. They stay infectious for 2 to 3 weeks after they begin to cough.
Babies
Young babies with whooping cough may have apnoea (pauses in breathing) instead of a bad cough.
Young children are particularly at risk from whooping cough. In severe cases, during these pauses your baby may turn blue. This can be life threatening.
Children
Coughing episodes can be very severe. Coughing can be painful for your child and hard for you to watch.
Your child might have difficulty breathing while coughing. You might notice a 'whooping' sound when they are finally able to take a breath in.
After a bad coughing episode, your child may vomit. This is more likely if your child hasn't been vaccinated.
Your child's cough is likely to get worse at night and they might struggle to sleep.
What causes whooping cough?
Whooping cough (pertussis) is an infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis.
The whooping cough infection is spread by droplets in the air. These are created when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching surfaces where droplets have landed.
Whooping cough is highly contagious. It can spread quickly in families. Most household contacts (people who live in the same home) who aren't vaccinated will get whooping cough.
Ensure your family practices good hygiene, including washing hands often.
How is the cause of whooping cough diagnosed?
Your doctor may take a swab test of your child's nose or throat.
The results of these tests will tell your doctor if your child has whooping cough.
Whooping cough is a notifiable disease. If your child has whooping cough, the local public health unit are told the result. The public health unit may talk with you to try and find out:
- where your child caught whooping cough
- who your child has been in contact with (contact tracing)
This helps limit the spread of whooping cough and protects your community.
When should I see my doctor?
If you think your child might have whooping cough, it's important to see your doctor.
Be sure to call ahead and let the receptionist know of your concerns. Ask about the possibility of a home visit or telehealth appointment. This way, you can protect other people in the waiting room.
How is whooping cough treated?
Treatment for whooping cough will depend on your child's age and how bad their symptoms are.
Babies under 6 months of age are likely to be admitted to hospital and watched closely.
Older children who are very sick will also need to go to hospital.
Self-care at home
Make sure that your child can rest. Give them frequent sips of fluid to stop dehydration.
Medicines for whooping cough
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. This helps with the symptoms and reduces the chance of your child spreading the infection to others.
Even with antibiotics, your child may continue to cough for weeks after becoming infected.
Close contacts of children with whooping cough are also often given antibiotics. If your child has whooping cough, ask your doctor whether you or other family members need antibiotics.
What are the complications of whooping cough?
Babies are most at risk of being hospitalised or even dying from whooping cough.
About 1 in every 125 babies under the age of 6 months, dies from pneumonia or brain damage caused by whooping cough.
Other complications are:
Can whooping cough be prevented?
The best way to protect your child from whooping cough is through vaccination. It takes around 2 weeks for the vaccine to work.
Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), the whooping cough vaccine is free of charge at:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 18 months
- 4 years
Another booster vaccination is given during the first year of high school.
However, if your child has not been vaccinated at these ages, speak with your doctor. Catch-up vaccinations against whooping cough are free for some children.
Partners, grandparents, carers and other adults who have contact with babies should get the whooping cough vaccine.
How do I stop the spread of whooping cough?
You should keep your infected child away from school, day-care and other children until they are no longer infectious. This is usually at the end of the course of antibiotics.
Find out more about when your child can return to school.
It's important to keep your child away from babies under 6 months of age. This is because young babies are very vulnerable to whooping cough.
Try to teach your child to cover their nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing. This will help stop the spread of infection.
Resources and support
If you have any questions or concerns about whooping cough, speak to your doctor or child health nurse.
Learn more about how whooping cough during pregnancy can affect you and your baby.
Languages other than English
Health Translations Victoria has information on pertussis (whooping cough) in many community languages.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
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Last reviewed: June 2025