Bacteria · Respiratory
Bordetella pertussis
Whooping cough
The short answer
Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough. Early illness may resemble a cold, and infants are particularly vulnerable.
Transmission and timing
Tell the clinician how long coughing has lasted and about infant or pregnant contacts. Managing contacts is a separate decision from treating the patient.
CDC ↗Symptoms and risk groups
Coughing fits and vomiting after coughing may occur. Babies can have pauses in breathing without coughing; absence of a typical whoop does not exclude infection.
CDC ↗When to seek help
Pauses in breathing, blue discoloration or breathing difficulty in a baby are emergencies. Violent coughing fits also warrant assessment.
CDC ↗For life-threatening symptoms, severe breathing difficulty or altered consciousness, call your local emergency number (112 in Türkiye).
What does the test show?
Culture, PCR and sometimes serology are useful at different stages. Report cough onset and previous antibiotics; a late negative result can be misleading.
CDC ↗Care and treatment approach
Early treatment is more useful. Cough can persist despite treatment later in illness; decisions consider age, timing and high-risk contacts.
CDC ↗Prevention and everyday life
Review vaccination history. Vaccinated people can still become ill; do not start post-exposure preventive treatment yourself.
CDC ↗CDC ↗Clinical assessment note
Specimen and timing affect diagnostic yield. Consider the consequences of delay with infant or third-trimester pregnant contacts, and follow local reporting procedures.
CDC ↗CDC ↗Bring a question to your appointment
Does an infant or pregnant household contact need post-exposure assessment?
International evidence, local decisions
Each source’s country is identified. Vaccine access, reimbursement, isolation and reporting rules vary. Use current guidance and your clinician’s advice in your country; English does not imply UK or US eligibility.
Sources and supporting evidence
- CDC · Symptoms of whooping cough ↗
Country context: United States · Source checked: · Source date: 2025-12-02
- CDC · Treatment of pertussis ↗
Country context: United States · Source checked:
- CDC · Laboratory testing for pertussis ↗
Country context: United States · Source checked:
Related topics
Version and change history
- Written by
- Doktorclub editorial team
- Medically reviewed
- Dr. Murat Toktamışoğlu
- Reviewed on
- 14 October 2026
- Next review
- 14 April 2027
- Version
- 1.0.0
- — Medical and language review completed for this language version.
- — First sourced draft prepared; medical review pending.
Doktorclub editorial content · Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed for medical accuracy and language. Information supports, but does not replace, clinical assessment. This guide does not diagnose or create a personal medication plan. Report a content correction · Editorial standards