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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Most people recover from whooping cough with no problems. When complications occur, they tend to be side effects of the strenuous coughing, such as:

  • Bruised or cracked ribs
  • Abdominal hernias
  • Broken blood vessels in the skin or the whites of your eyes

Infants
In infants — especially those under 6 months of age — complications from whooping cough are more severe and may include:

  • Ear infections
  • Pneumonia
  • Slowed or stopped breathing
  • Dehydration
  • Seizures
  • Brain damage

Because infants and toddlers are at greatest risk of complications from whooping cough, they're more likely to need treatment in a hospital. Complications can be life-threatening for infants less than 6 months old.

Preparing for your appointment Risk factors
References
  1. Pertussis (whooping cough): What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  2. Hewlett EL. Whooping cough and other bordetella infections. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  3. Long SS. Pertussis. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated recommendations for use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) in pregnant women and persons who have or anticipate having close contact with an infant <12 months. 2011;60:1424. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm?s_cid=mm6041a4_e%0d%0a. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  5. Yeh S, et al. Clinical features and diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis infection in infants and children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  6. Byrd EM, et al. Clinical features and diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis infection in adolescents and adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  7. Yeh S. Treatment and prevention of Bordetella pertussis infection in infants and children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  8. Byrd EM, et al. Treatment and prevention of Bordetella pertussis infection in adolescents and adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 6, 2011.
  9. Recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years and older — United States, 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2013.
  10. Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0 through 18 years — United States, 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html. Accessed Feb. 19, 2013.
DS00445 March 19, 2013

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