Whooping cough: understanding serious illness risk

Pertussis affects people differently. In adults it may be recognised as a prolonged, exhausting cough, while infants can develop serious breathing and feeding problems. The degree of risk for an individual depends on age, underlying health, pregnancy, access to timely assessment and how the illness is progressing. Vaccination helps prevent illness, but it does not remove the need to assess concerning symptoms. Focus on the person's current breathing, hydration, alertness and ability to feed rather than trying to judge safety from a general statistic.

Contact a clinician if a person has prolonged coughing fits, especially after contact with someone diagnosed with whooping cough. Describe the timing of symptoms, any vomiting after coughs, fever, and whether there are young babies or pregnant people in the household. Follow advice about testing, treatment and limiting exposure to others. Keep fluids available, avoid smoke exposure and observe children closely during and after coughing episodes.

Seek emergency care for breathing difficulty, pauses in breathing, blue or grey colouring, collapse, seizures, marked drowsiness, or inability to keep fluids down. A baby with poor feeding, fewer wet nappies, unusual sleepiness or a new cough should be assessed promptly. Do not wait for a typical whooping sound before seeking help; dangerous breathing symptoms can occur without it.

Ask what signs should prompt emergency care, how to monitor feeding and hydration, whether household contacts need assessment, and whether vaccination status should be reviewed. If treatment is prescribed, ask how it is intended to help and how to reduce spread at home.