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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staff
Childhood vaccine — DTaP
The best way to prevent whooping cough is with the pertussis vaccine, which doctors often give in combination with vaccines against two other serious diseases, diphtheria and tetanus. This three-in-one combination is known as the DTaP vaccine. It's a newer and safer version of the DTP vaccine, which is no longer used in the United States.
Doctors recommend beginning DTaP vaccination during infancy. The vaccine consists of a series of five shots, typically given in the arm to children at these ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 12 to 18 months
- 4 to 6 years
It takes at least three shots of the pertussis vaccine to fully protect a child against whooping cough, but a total of five shots are recommended by age 6 years.
Adolescent booster vaccine — Tdap
Because immunity from the pertussis vaccine tends to wane by age 11, and because of the increase in cases of whooping cough in adolescents and teens between 11 and 18 years of age, doctors recommend a booster shot for those in this age group. This is the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine, or Tdap. (DTaP is the name of the pediatric vaccine and Tdap is the name of the booster for people 11 years of age and older.) The booster is given preferably at ages 11 or 12. This is in place of the traditional tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine received at this age.
Adult booster vaccine — Tdap
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also advises adults to receive an initial Tdap or booster shot every 10 years instead of the Td booster shot. The Tdap vaccine helps protect adults from pertussis and reduces the risk of them transmitting the infection to infants. Adults who are or will be in close contact with infants under 12 months of age should also receive the vaccine.
Vaccine side effects
Side effects of the vaccine may include fever, irritability, vomiting or soreness at the injection site. These problems are more likely to occur after the fourth or fifth dose of the DTaP series than after earlier doses. After later doses, some children may develop swelling of the arm or leg in which the shot was given. Ask your doctor what you can do for your child to minimize or relieve these side effects.
In rare cases, severe side effects may include:
- Serious allergic reactions, in which hives or a rash develops within minutes of the injection
- High fever of greater than 105 F (41 C)
- Seizures, shock or coma
Some people are concerned that the pertussis vaccine may cause neurological impairment because some children have developed brain damage near the time that they received the immunizations. So far, however, researchers have not found a definitive link between the pertussis vaccine and brain damage. Still, research into this issue is ongoing. Children with known seizure or brain disorders may not be candidates for the DTaP vaccine.
Alternative vaccines
There is another combination pertussis vaccine. In addition to helping protect against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus, the vaccine, Pediarix, also immunizes children against polio and hepatitis B, a serious liver infection. Because Pediarix protects against five diseases, children need fewer shots. But the vaccine also causes a wider range of side effects than does DTaP. Talk to your pediatrician about the best choice for your child.
Antibiotics
If a member of your household develops whooping cough, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics for the whole family to prevent spread of the infection to anyone else. And if you've had close contact with someone infected with whooping cough outside your family, you also may need to receive antibiotic treatment.
