Medical Treatment

Antibiotics are used to lessen the severity of whooping cough and make the person taking them noncontagious. Antibiotics are most effective if given early in the first phase of the illness.

The 2005 Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy recommends the following antibiotic treatments: a five-day course of azithromycin, a seven-day course of clarithromycin, or a 14-day course of either erythromycin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxozale (TMP/SMX).

• Some strains of whooping cough are resistant to certain antibiotics. Symptoms worsen if this is the case.

• In addition to treating the adult or child who has whooping cough, everyone in the household should be treated with antibiotics.

• All close contacts younger than 7 years who have not completed their primary vaccinations (including the DTaP to prevent pertussis) should complete this series with the minimum time between shots.

• Close contacts younger than 7 years who have completed their primary series but have not received a booster of DTaP within three years of exposure should be given the booster dose.

• Exposed adults should be vaccinated with Tdap (see the "Prevention" section below).

• Anyone with whooping cough should be isolated for five days after starting antibiotics or until three weeks after the onset of the coughing spasms if the person has not received antibiotic treatment.