Pediatrics

Whooping cough treatment available online today

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*Prescriptions are provided at the doctor’s discretion. Learn more about our controlled substances policy and how you can save up to 80% with our prescription discount card. PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of whooping cough. Our primary care physicians can evaluate your symptoms but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, including shortness of breath and persistent chest pain, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Learn about whooping cough

Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is characterized by severe coughing spells that end with a "whooping" sound due to the high pitch intake of breath. Because the pertussis vaccine (often part of the DTaP or Tdap combination vaccine), which helps the body fight the bacteria called Bordetella pertussis, has been widely available for decades, the people most likely to become infected are young babies who have not received the vaccine, older kids and adults whose immunity is starting to fade and need vaccine boosters, or those people with a weak immune system or whom never received the vaccine for other reasons.

Whooping cough causes

Whooping cough is a lung infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. These highly contagious bacteria spread from person to person through airborne droplets, specifically, via coughing or sneezing. Once in a person’s respiratory tract the bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny little hairs) in the upper respiratory system and release harmful chemicals that damage the cilia and cause swelling in the airways

Whooping cough symptoms

Symptoms of whooping cough usually develop within 5 to 10 days of exposure, but in some cases, may take as long as 3 weeks to develop. There are early symptoms of whooping cough and later symptoms of whooping cough.

Early symptoms

In the early stages, also known as the catarrhal phase, cold-like symptoms are expected, such as:

Runny nose
Sneezing
Mild cough from time to time
Low-grade fever
Mild Fatigue
Apnea is a pause in breathing that primarily affects babies. If they start to turn blue, seek medical attention right away by calling 911.

Given the deceptive nature of the early stage symptoms, pertussis can easily be mistaken by patients and healthcare providers alike as the common cold.

Later stage symptoms

As the disease progresses after 1 to 2 weeks, the infection moves into what is called the paroxysmal phase. The hallmark symptoms of pertussis begin to show, including:

Coughing fits (“paroxysmal coughing”) followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound
Vomiting during or after coughing fits
Fatigue after coughing fits

The intense coughing spells begin to rapidly expel air from the lungs, often culminating in a sudden, forced intake of breath that produces a high pitched "whooping" sound. This sound is much more common in babies and young kids due to their small airways and less common in adults. These coughing spell can lead to fatigue and vomting. As the disease progresses, the coughing spells may become more frequent at night and persist for up to 10 weeks or longer.

The final stage is known as the convalescent phase, sees a reduction in the frequency of coughing fits as the person slowly begins to feel better. The entire illness can last 3-4 months, earning it the nickname “the 100 day cough.”

How to treat whooping cough

Pertussis is typically treated with antibiotics by medical professionals. Early treatment, ideally within 3 weeks of the infection onset, is best to prevent the spread of the infection to others. However, it is important to know that antibiotic treatment typically does not alter the course of the infection in the person who is sick. Taking an antibiotic reduces risk of spread to others, but only time, rest, and certain cough medications will help a person feel better while they recover from whooping cough.

Visit a doctor to get an official diagnosis if you suspect that you or your child has whooping cough. The doctor can make an official diagnosis via the following:

Medical history
Physical exam
Nose and throat mucus lab samples to detect the presence of the bacteria
Blood test to detect the presence of the bacteria
Chest X-ray

Your online doctor may order confirmation blood work or refer you to in-person care for nasal and/or throat cultures. In most cases, confirmation is required before antibiotic treatment can be prescribed. Often, the focus is on the management of cough symptoms.

With a confirmed diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe antibiotic treatment for at-home care or recommend in-hospital care, depending on the severity of symptoms and the age of the patient. Pertussis and complications from it can be potentially life-threatening for infants younger than 6 months, and people over 65 years of age, especially those who have underlying lung conditions such as asthma or COPD, so hospital care is often preferred for these people.

Medication for whooping cough

Medications to Treat Whooping Cough

Early treatment of pertussis is critical in infants under the age of one year.The earlier a person, especially an infant, starts treatment the less lung damage they will have and the less chance they will have of spreading the infection to others. Treatment after three weeks of illness, especially in people over the age of one year, is unlikely to be effective as the bacteria will most likely have been eradicated by the immune system. Some people at high risk of severe complications may benefit from treatment up to 6 weeks from onset of infection. For most people who have been coughing for three weeks or longer, treatment focuses on helping to manage the severity of the coughing spells.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these antibiotics are recommended for treatment of pertussis:

Azithromycin

Clarithromycin

Erythromycin

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

Management of Cough Symptoms

The most effective cough suppressant for whooping cough is dextromethorphan, a common cough suppressant available over the counter in various forms. In a small amount of patients who are unable to take dextromethorphan, use of gabapentin has limited evidence that it can help reduce the severity of cough. Prescription cough suppressants that contain opiates (such as codeine or hydrocodone) or the anti-nausea medicine promethazine are not recommended for the treatment of whooping cough.

Who is at risk for complications caused by whooping cough?

-Babies under the age of 2 months of age and other infants who have not received pertussis vaccination

-People over the age of 65 years, especially people who also have chronic lung disease such as COPD or asthma

-Immunocompromised people

-Smokers

How to prevent whooping cough

Pertussis vaccines are the best method to prevent whooping cough. In United States, this vaccine is given in conjunction with vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria, the DTaP and Tdap vaccines. The early childhood vaccination consists of a series of five injections at the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 moths, and 4-6 years.

As the immunity will start to wear off with time, booster shots are recommended for the following groups of people:

Teenagers/adolescents: Immunity effects of the vaccine tend to wear off by around age 11. A booster is recommended at age 11 and can be done later if due.
Adults: Adults are recommended to get a booster shot at every 10 year interval for continued protection against whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria. This is especially important for parents of young children or infants, as the booster can reduce the risk of infecting or getting infected by infants or children.
Pregnant women: Pregnant women are recommended to receive the pertussis vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation.

Household members with close contact to patients with a whooping cough diagnosis should also be prescribed preventive antibiotics.

If you suspect that a household member or you have whooping cough, follow these personal hygiene routines to prevent the spread:

Wash hands frequently with soap and water
Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces in shared spaces
Do not touch your face unnecessarily
Cover coughs and sneezes to reduce the spread
Stay home if you are sick

When to see a doctor for whooping cough

Visit a doctor if you suspect that you or your child has whooping cough. Early treatment of pertussis is critical for infants or unvaccinated people. The earlier a person, especially an infant, starts treatment (first 1 to 2 weeks before coughing fits), the symptoms may be reduced, and there may be less damage done by the bacteria. In most situations, diagnosis requires a nasal/throat culture or blood test to confirm the diagnosis before antibiotics are prescribed. If you have symptoms suggestive of whooping cough and a close exposure to someone recently confirmed to have whooping cough, or have no symptoms but live with someone who has confirmed whooping cough, you may be a candidate for antibiotic treatment without first requiring confirmation testing.

Whooping cough treatment FAQs

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough (also called pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection, that is characterized by severe rapid coughs that ends with a "whooping" sound due to high pitch intake of breath.

How is whooping cough diagnosed?

The doctor can make an official diagnosis using the following methods:

Physical exam
Medical history
Nose or throat culture
Chest X-ray
Blood sample

What is the best treatment for whooping cough?

Early treatment of pertussis is critical. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these antibiotics are recommended for treatment of pertussis:

Azithromycin
Clarithromycin
Erythromycin
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

How long does whooping cough last without treatment?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of whooping cough from the early stage to the final stage (convalescent stage) can last up to 12 weeks. The coughing spells can last up to 10 weeks or more.

How long is whooping cough contagious after treatment?

Whooping cough is highly contagious. An infected person is likely the most contagious up to about 2 weeks after the beginning of the cough. A person with pertussis can infect a large group of people in the near vicinity (as many as 12 to 15). Antibiotics may shorten the amount of time someone is contagious.

How do antibiotics treat whooping cough?

The following antibiotics are recommended for treatment of pertussis: azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin. The antibiotics work by stopping important biological processes in the whooping cough bacteria, stopping them from growing and multiplying and/or killing them.

How do you get rid of whooping cough fast?

Simply put, whooping cough recovery takes time. However with early treatment of pertussis the likelihood of spreading it to others is lower, and the risk of severe disease for people at high risk of complications from this infection is reduced. Starting treatment early, ideally within the first 1 to 2 weeks after the onset of coughing fits, is especially crucial for high-risk individuals, such as infants. Early intervention may reduce the duration and severity of symptoms.

Step 1

Book a whooping cough treatment appointment.

Book a same day appointment from anywhere.

Step 2

Talk to your board-certified primary care physician regarding your whooping cough symptoms.

Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.

Step 3

Pick up a prescription for whooping cough treatment, if prescribed.

Prescriptions are at your doctor’s discretion. Your online doctor may also order confirmation blood work or refer you to in-person care for nasal and/or throat cultures. We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.

Related conditions to whooping cough

There are illnesses that may be difficult to distinguish from a pertussis infection, including:

Bacterial pneumonia

A bacterial infection, specifically infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, can cause prolonged cough symptoms in adolescents and adults.

Cold and influenza

Symptoms from the infections of COVID-19, adenoviruses, influenza viruses, and enteroviruses are similar to the symptoms of whooping cough in the early stage

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