Whooping Cough
Bordetella pertussis
What it is
Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that causes severe coughing fits, with several coughs in a row. A loud “whooping” sound often occurs when the person breathes in after a coughing fit.
Related sheet available: Cough
What you can do at home
What to do
- Take medication as prescribed.
- Get as much rest as possible.
- Drink water, herbal tea, or broth.
- For babies: Offer breast milk or formula more often, in smaller amounts.
- For children: Offer water, milk, juice, or warm broth often.
- Eat according to appetite. Have smaller meals more often, if needed.
- Keep the air in the home clean.
- If needed, see the health advice sheet on Ear Pain.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). When in doubt, ask a pharmacist for advice.
Important: Ibuprofen is contraindicated for children under 6 months of age.
For coughing fits
- Sit comfortably with your back straight or leaning your back slightly, at about a 45-degree angle.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated, for example by placing a pillow under the mattress or raising it slightly.
- If needed, see the Cough health advice sheet.
- Take ½ to 1 teaspoon of honey a few times a day, as needed.
Important: Honey is contraindicated for children under 1 year of age.
Avoid
- Places where there is smoke or dust
- Strenuous physical activity
When to seek medical attention
Ear pain that does not go away
Fever lasting 3 days
Cold symptoms, such as a cough, runny nose, or fatigue, after contact with someone who has whooping cough
Chest pain that does not go away
Need help?
Call Info-Santé at 811, Option 1, to speak with a nurse at any time.
Go to the pharmacy for advice on medications or treatment.
Make an appointment at your medical clinic or CLSC.
If you do not have a family doctor, go to gap.soinsvirtuels or call 811, Option 3.
When to go to the hospital right away
Blood spot appears on the coloured part of your eye
Lèvres bleues pendant et après une quinte de toux
Sudden chest pain that does not go away
Seizures (uncontrollable shaking of the body)
For babies and children from 1 month to 2 years of age: breathing stops after a coughing fit
Rapid changes in the person’s condition, such as:
- unusual fatigue or difficulty staying awake
- reduced responsiveness
- confusion
- agitation
- unusual behaviour
- hallucinations
- reduced appetite or thirst
- difficulty carrying out normal daily activities
Signs of dehydration despite drinking plenty of fluids, such as:
- dry mouth
- extreme thirst
- less urine (pee)
- dark yellow urine
- weakness
- in young children: fewer tears when crying
Severe difficulty breathing, especially if:
- breathing becomes increasingly difficult, even at rest
- there is a high-pitched or wheezing sound when breathing (stridor)
- the chest or abdomen pulls inward with each breath (retractions)
- the skin, lips or fingers are blue or bluish (cyanosis)
- in babies and children under 2 years of age, the nostrils flare with each breath