Infections
Medicines for Whooping cough
A highly contagious bacterial infection causing bouts of intense coughing and the characteristic "whoop" — most dangerous in young babies, and helped by an early antibiotic and by vaccination.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Whooping cough?
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious infection of the airways caused by bacteria. It often begins like an ordinary cold, with a runny nose, sneezing and a mild cough, before settling into severe bouts of intense, repeated coughing that can last for weeks.
- How it is treated: An antibiotic can play an important role in whooping cough, but its main purpose is often misunderstood.
- Self-care: While recovering, rest and drink plenty of fluids, and take small, frequent meals if coughing tends to bring on vomiting.
- When to seek help: See a GP if you or your child has bouts of intense coughing, a "whoop" or vomiting after coughing, or a cough that is getting worse rather than better — especially if you have been in contact with whooping cough or are pregnant.
What it is
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious infection of the airways caused by bacteria. It often begins like an ordinary cold, with a runny nose, sneezing and a mild cough, before settling into severe bouts of intense, repeated coughing that can last for weeks. After a long bout, the sharp intake of breath can produce the characteristic "whoop" sound, and the coughing can be followed by vomiting. The illness is sometimes called the "100-day cough" because it can linger for a long time. While older children and adults usually recover, whooping cough is particularly dangerous in young babies, who may not whoop at all but can instead have pauses in their breathing (apnoea) or go blue, and can become seriously unwell. Protection comes mainly from vaccination — given in pregnancy to protect newborns in their first weeks, and in the routine childhood immunisation schedule. Whooping cough is a notifiable infection, so doctors inform the public health authorities when it is diagnosed.
How it is treated
An antibiotic can play an important role in whooping cough, but its main purpose is often misunderstood. A macrolide antibiotic, given early in the illness, mostly works to reduce how infectious a person is and to limit spread to others, particularly to vulnerable young babies; once the coughing fits are well established, antibiotics do little to shorten the cough itself, because much of it is caused by irritation that lingers after the bacteria have gone. Treatment is therefore most useful when started promptly, and close contacts who are at higher risk may sometimes be offered an antibiotic to prevent the infection taking hold. Beyond antibiotics, care is largely supportive — rest, fluids and time. Vaccination remains the cornerstone of prevention: given in pregnancy to protect babies in their earliest, most vulnerable weeks, and as part of the routine childhood programme. Young babies and anyone severely affected may need to be assessed and sometimes treated in hospital.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Whooping cough
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Symptom checker
Symptoms that can point to Whooping cough
Whooping cough can be one cause of these symptoms. Each guide explains the other possible causes and the red-flag warning signs that mean you should get urgent help:
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
While recovering, rest and drink plenty of fluids, and take small, frequent meals if coughing tends to bring on vomiting. A calm, smoke-free environment helps, as smoke and other irritants can trigger coughing fits. To avoid spreading the infection, cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands often, and stay away from nursery, school or work until past the infectious period or as advised. It is especially important to keep away from young babies, pregnant women and anyone with a weakened immune system while you are infectious. The single most effective protection, for the wider household and community, is keeping up to date with the whooping cough vaccinations offered in pregnancy and in childhood.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
See a GP if you or your child has bouts of intense coughing, a "whoop" or vomiting after coughing, or a cough that is getting worse rather than better — especially if you have been in contact with whooping cough or are pregnant. Tell the surgery you suspect whooping cough, as you may be asked not to attend in person to avoid spreading it. Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if a baby or child goes blue, stops breathing or has long pauses in their breathing, is struggling to breathe, or becomes very unwell, as young babies in particular can deteriorate quickly and may need hospital care.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Whooping cough: frequently asked questions
What medicines are used for whooping cough?
The main medicine is a macrolide antibiotic, but its purpose is often misunderstood. Given early, it works mostly to reduce how infectious a person is and to limit spread — particularly to vulnerable young babies — rather than to shorten an established cough, which lingers because of irritation that remains after the bacteria have gone. It is therefore most useful when started promptly, and close contacts at higher risk may sometimes be offered an antibiotic to stop the infection taking hold. The rest of care is supportive, with rest and fluids, and vaccination is the key way to prevent the illness in the first place.
Why is whooping cough so dangerous for babies?
Young babies are at the greatest risk because their airways are small and they have little or no immunity. They may not make the characteristic "whoop" at all, and instead can have pauses in their breathing (apnoea), go blue, or become seriously unwell very quickly. Because of this, babies with whooping cough often need to be assessed and may be treated in hospital. This is why vaccination in pregnancy — which passes protection to the newborn for their first vulnerable weeks — and the childhood vaccines are so important.
How does the whooping cough vaccine help?
Vaccination is the cornerstone of prevention. The vaccine given in pregnancy passes protection from mother to baby, shielding newborns during their earliest and most vulnerable weeks before they can be vaccinated themselves. The routine childhood immunisation schedule then builds the child's own protection. Keeping up to date with these vaccinations protects not only the individual but also the wider community, helping to keep the infection away from the babies most at risk of serious illness.
How long is whooping cough infectious?
Whooping cough spreads easily through coughs and sneezes, and a person is generally infectious from the early cold-like stage and for some time into the coughing illness. An early course of a macrolide antibiotic shortens the period during which someone can pass it on. Until past the infectious period, it is important to stay away from nursery, school or work as advised, and to keep away from young babies and pregnant women. Because it is a notifiable infection, doctors inform the public health authorities so contacts can be protected.
Keep reading
Related articles
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Whooping cough.
- UK Health Security Agency: Whooping cough (pertussis).
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