Whooping cough [pertussis] is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it's marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop."
Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease. Now whooping cough primarily affects children too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations and teenagers and adults whose immunity has faded.
Deaths associated with whooping cough are rare but most commonly occur in infants. That's why it's so important for pregnant women — and other people who will have close contact with an infant — to be vaccinated against whooping cough.
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Symptoms
Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear, though it can sometimes take longer. They're usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Red, watery eyes
- Fever
- Cough
After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable coughing. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:
- Provoke vomiting
- Result in a red or blue face
- Cause extreme fatigue
- End with a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath of air
However, many people don't develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough.
Infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may struggle to breathe, or they may even temporarily stop breathing.
When to see a doctor
Call your doctor if prolonged coughing spells cause you or your child to:
- Vomit
- Turn red or blue
- Seem to be struggling to breathe or have noticeable pauses in breathing
- Inhale with a whooping sound
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Tdap is a combination vaccine that protects against three potentially life-threatening bacterial diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis [whooping cough]. Td is a booster vaccine for tetanus and diphtheria. It does not protect against pertussis.
Tetanus enters the body through a wound or cut. It affects the brain and nervous system and causes extremely painful muscle spasms. Spasms of the jaw can make it impossible for you to open your mouth. This condition is often called "lockjaw." Tetanus kills one out of five people infected with the disease.
Diphtheria is a very contagious infection that makes it difficult to breathe. In severe cases, it can cause heart and nerve damage.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an extremely contagious respiratory infection that can lead to severe breathing problems, especially in infants. Pertussis first appears like an ordinary cold, but then causes intense, uncontrollable coughing spells. A "whoop" noise is heard when the person tries to take a breath after coughing.
These diseases were once quite common in the U.S. and led to many deaths. However, routine vaccinations have helped nearly eliminate tetanus and diphtheria infections. Pertussis seems to have plateaued in recent years in the U.S. Before 2005, only young children could receive the pertussis vaccine. Waning immunity and inadequate vaccination -- many parents choose not to vaccinate their children -- have led to a resurgence of the disease in the U.S. in recent years. Outbreaks of pertussis among adolescents and adults have been reported in several states.
Tdap vaccination offers the best prevention against pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria. Tdap stands for tetanus and diphtheria toxoids with acellular pertussis. It is marketed under the brand names Adacel and Boostrix.
Tdap is an inactive vaccine, which means it is made using dead bacteria. The dead germs cannot make you sick. Tdap is not the same as DTaP, the vaccine used for children to prevent the same diseases.
When Should Adults Be Vaccinated With Tdap?
The CDC recommends the Tdap vaccine for all adults ages 19 and older who have never received the vaccine, especially:
- Health care workers who have direct contact with patients
- Caregivers of infants under 1 year old, including parents, grandparents, and babysitters
- Pregnant women in their third trimester [ideally 27th through 36th week], even if they have previously received Tdap vaccine; this can protect a newborn from whooping cough in the first months of life.
- New mothers who have never received the Tdap
- People who travel to countries where pertussis is common
You may be given the Tdap vaccine if you have a severe cut or burn and have never received a dose before. Severe cuts or burns raise your risk for tetanus. The Tdap vaccine can be given any time of the year. Only one shot is needed. It may be given with other vaccinations. Tdap can be given regardless of the interval since the last Td vaccine was given. The Tdap vaccine can be used safely for those ages 65 and over, according to 2013 CDC recommendations. Tdap is typically given once during a lifetime [except during pregnancies]. However, it is recommended that booster shots of the Td vaccine be given every 10 years to adequately protect you against tetanus and diphtheria. You should not receive the vaccine if you have had: If you have had any of the following, talk to your doctor about whether the Tdap or Td vaccine is right for you: Like all medicines, vaccines can have side effects. However, the chance of a life-threatening reaction is small. The CDC says the dangers of developing pertussis, tetanus, or diphtheria far outweigh the risks of vaccination.Who Needs a Booster Shot?
Who Should Not Get the Vaccine?
What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Tdap and Td?
Mild side effects of Tdap may include:
- Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given
- Mild fever
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Stomach upset, including nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Muscle aches and pains
- Swollen glands
Mild side effects of Td may include: In some people, these side effects may be more intense. They may temporarily interfere with daily activities. Severe swelling of the arm has been reported in three out of 100 people receiving either Tdap or Td. About one in 250 adults who receive the Tdap vaccine develop a fever of 102 F or higher. During clinical trials of Tdap, two adults developed temporary nervous system problems. It's unknown whether this was due to the vaccine or not. In rare cases, vaccination with Tdap or Td has led to extreme swelling of the arm where the shot was given. Although it's rare, someone may have a severe allergic reaction to an ingredient in the Tdap or Td vaccine. This generally happens in less than one in a million doses. Most of the time, such reactions occur within a few minutes of receiving the vaccine. The following can be signs of a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis: Seek immediate medical care if you notice any of these signs after receiving the Tdap or Td vaccines.Can Adults Have Allergic Reactions to Tdap or Td Vaccines?
SOURCES: CDC web site: "Possible Side Effects of Vaccines" and "Tetanus, Diphtheria [TD], or Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis [Tdap] Vaccine. What You Need To Know." National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: "Types of Vaccines." Immunization Action Coalition: "Ask the Experts: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis" and "Pertussis Vaccine."Show Sources
What is the tetanus whooping cough vaccine called?
What type of vaccine is DTaP?
Is the whooping cough vaccine a toxoid vaccine?
Is DTaP and Tdap the same?