Tetanus and whooping cough: what to know

Tetanus develops when bacteria enter damaged skin and produce a toxin affecting the nervous system. Whooping cough, also called pertussis, spreads through respiratory droplets and can cause repeated bouts of coughing, sometimes followed by a whooping sound or vomiting.

Protection against one infection does not treat the other. A person can have a cough for many reasons, and a cough does not by itself show that someone has whooping cough. When whooping cough is suspected, early assessment matters because infection can spread to infants and vulnerable household members.

Check your vaccination record with a doctor or clinic, especially before contact with a newborn or if a booster has been suggested. Ask which combined vaccine is appropriate for your age, health, and previous doses. Keep the record updated after each vaccination.

If you develop a persistent or worsening cough, limit close contact with babies until you have medical advice, cover coughs, wash your hands, and avoid sharing cups or utensils. Antibiotic treatment may be prescribed for whooping cough and can also help reduce spread when started at the right time; it does not replace vaccination.

Arrange prompt medical review for coughing fits, a cough that causes vomiting, a whooping sound, or close contact with someone diagnosed with whooping cough. Fever with a cough should also be assessed when it is persistent or the person is becoming more unwell.

Seek emergency help for pauses in breathing, blue or grey lips, severe breathing difficulty, unusual sleepiness, dehydration, or inability to keep fluids down. Infants with breathing changes need urgent assessment because they may not make the classic whooping sound.

Ask: Am I due a tetanus and whooping cough-containing vaccine? Could this cough be whooping cough? Should household contacts be assessed? Would antibiotic treatment be useful, and what symptoms require emergency care?