Whooping Cough (pertussis) is a highly infectious disease that is spread by coughing and sneezing. It's caused by bacteria which damage the breathing tubes.Whooping Cough can be very serious for babies and children,especially those under 1 year old. If babies catch whooping cough, they:
People with Whooping Cough are infectious from 6 days after exposure to the bacteria, when symptoms are like a normal cold, to 3 weeks after the Whooping Cough begins unless they are treated with antibiotics. Many babies catch whooping cough from their older siblings or parents often before they're old enough to be vaccinated.