Skip to navigation Skip to Content

Search

Menu
Search Marshfield Clinic Health System
Join a world-class health system. Find jobs

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Whooping cough is a serious disease caused by bacteria that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

It is very contagious. Whooping cough causes severe coughing that can lead to vomiting and broken ribs. 

In addition, whooping cough causes apnea (a pause in breathing in infants), pneumonia, bleeding in the eyes and brain, and death in severe cases. 

It receives its name due to the "whoop" heard when an infected person gasps for breath.

Whooping cough is most dangerous for babies, but anyone can become seriously ill.

Vaccine Recommendations

All children should get five doses of DTaP (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) vaccine, beginning when they're 2 months old. 

Older children, teens and adults should receive booster vaccination (Tdap). Pregnant women need a dose in every pregnancy to help protect their newborns.​

Vaccine Preventable Diseases​​

Request Appointment

Contact us for care

If this is a medical emergency, call 911.

Call: 1-866-520-2510

(Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Find a Pediatrician
Pediatric locations

Vaccines by Age Group

Access Your Records

If you need help paying for vaccines, contact our Patient Assistance Center

Patient Assistance Center

Trusted Resources