Whooping Cough in Babies: Symptoms & Urgent Signs | Parenting Hub
Whooping cough is dangerous in babies under 6 months. The cough is severe with a 'whoop' or pauses in breathing. Here's what to watch for.
Whooping cough is a serious bacterial infection — most dangerous in babies under 6 months. Severe coughing fits, a 'whoop' on inhale, or pauses in breathing all need urgent review.
How it presents
- Starts like a cold for 1–2 weeks (runny nose, mild cough)
- Then severe coughing fits — long bursts of coughing without a breath
- Classic 'whoop' as baby gasps in, often vomits after a fit, may go red or blue
- Young babies may not whoop — instead they have apnoea (stop breathing) or go floppy and blue
- Cough can last 8–12 weeks ('100-day cough')
Why it's so serious in babies
Under 6 months, babies are most at risk of complications (apnoea, pneumonia, seizures, brain injury). Babies are usually hospitalised.
Treatment
Antibiotics (early, usually azithromycin) reduce spread and may shorten illness if given in the first 3 weeks. Household contacts often need antibiotics too. Notify GP urgently.
Prevention
Pertussis vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program (6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, then 18 months and 4 years). Pregnant women are offered a booster from 20 weeks of every pregnancy — it protects baby in the first months.
When to seek help
- Pauses in breathing (apnoea), going blue, going floppy — 000
- Severe coughing fits, vomiting after coughing
- Any persistent cough in a baby under 6 months — same-day GP
- Refusing feeds, dehydration, exhaustion
Common questions
Can older kids and adults give it to babies?
Yes — most baby cases come from adults or older siblings whose protection has waned. Boosters during pregnancy and for carers reduce this risk.