whooping cough (pertussis)
by catherine alderstein·
exclusion period
exclude for 21 days after the onset of cough, OR until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment has been completed
symptoms
- •persistent cough that gets worse over time
- •bouts of rapid coughing followed by a 'whoop' sound when breathing in
- •vomiting after coughing fits
- •exhaustion after coughing episodes
- •may not produce a typical 'whoop' in babies
- •in babies: episodes of apnoea (stopping breathing) or turning blue
when can your child return to childcare?
the child can return after completing 5 full days of antibiotic treatment. without antibiotics, exclusion is for 21 days from when the cough started.
do siblings or contacts need to stay home?
unimmunised contacts under 7 should be excluded for 14 days after the last exposure, or until they have taken 5 days of antibiotics. contacts who are household members should seek medical advice.
treatment notes for parents
see a GP urgently — antibiotics (azithromycin) reduce the infectious period. whooping cough is a notifiable disease. it is especially dangerous for babies under 6 months. vaccination is the best prevention (given at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, and 18 months).
view all exclusion periods
the complete illness-by-illness guide
this guide is for informational purposes only. exclusion periods are based on the NHMRC's Staying Healthy guidelines and were accurate at the time of writing. always consult your child's GP or childcare centre for specific advice. mini mode is not a medical service.