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.
