Whooping cough (pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems. It’s important for babies and children to get vaccinated against it.
For more information see the NHS links here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/whooping-cough/
https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/
How long whooping cough is contagious?
If you have whooping cough, you’re contagious from about 6 days after the start of cold-like symptoms to 3 weeks after the coughing starts.
If you start antibiotics within 3 weeks of starting to cough, it will reduce the time you’re contagious for.
Important
Stay off work or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or 3 weeks after your symptoms started if you’ve not had antibiotics.
The whooping cough vaccine
The whooping cough vaccine protects babies and children from getting whooping cough. That’s why it’s important to have all the routine NHS vaccinations.
