Treatment for whooping cough
If your child has whooping cough, they might:
- need a stay in hospital - if they're under 6 months old or very poorly
- be given antibiotics to take at home - if the infection is diagnosed in the first 3 weeks
- not need any treatment - if they've had whooping cough for more than 3 weeks (they'll no longer be contagious)
Care for your child at home
If your child is at home with whooping cough, then:
- keep them at home until they've been on antibiotics for 5 days or they feel well again
- make sure they rest and drink lots of fluids
- don't worry if they don't feel like eating much
- give them liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring down their high temperature
- don't give them cough medicine - it's not suitable for young children
Stop the infection spreading
You can help prevent whooping cough from spreading by:
- keeping them away from crèche or school until 5 days after they start taking antibiotics
- letting the creche, childminder or school know that your child has been diagnosed with whooping cough, so they can let other
- parents know what to look out for
- covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze
- throwing away used tissues immediately
- washing your hands and your child's hands with soap and water
- avoiding having visitors at home
Whooping cough spreads when someone with the infection coughs or sneezes. It's most contagious during the first 3 weeks of the cough. While they're still contagious, keep your child away from:
- other children
- pregnant women
- older people
- anyone with health problems
Other people at home might need to take antibiotics to stop them getting infected, such as:
- babies under 6 months
- children who've not been vaccinated
- pregnant women
- health or childcare workers
- people with health or immune system problems
Talk to your GP or your local Department of Public Health if there is anyone at home who falls into these categories.