Whooping cough usually starts as a cold but, after a week, coughing bouts start to last a few minutes, worsening at night. Gasps for breaths can have a characteristic whooping noise, although young babies and some adults may not make this sound. Coughing bouts can end with production of a thick mucus and even vomiting.35,37

Breathing difficulties may make young babies appear blue or grey, and under the age of 1 year, there is a risk of dehydration, pneumonia and seizures, appetite loss. For older patients the impact can include sore ribs, hernia, middle ear infections and urinary incontinence. Whooping cough can persist for months.35

Infants under 3 months are most at risk of severe disease; in 2024, there were 433 cases in this age group, of whom 10 died as a result. Deaths are usually due to pneumonia or oxygen deprivation in the brain.2,37