What should I do if pertussis recurs a second time?

Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
Updated on June 09, 2025
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After recovering from whooping cough, patients usually produce antibodies in their bodies, so recurrences are rare. However, some patients may have weak constitutions, low immunity, and poor resistance. If they do not generate enough antibodies after being sick, they may get infected again when exposed to someone with whooping cough, leading to a second onset of the disease. If whooping cough recurs, the treatment plan is exactly the same as for the first occurrence, but patients should focus on boosting their immune system and resistance during treatment. In daily life, it is beneficial to eat foods rich in high-quality proteins and vitamins and to persist in physical exercise regularly.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Can whooping cough heal by itself?

Whooping cough is a respiratory infectious disease. If the infection is mild and the patient's immune system is normal, they can recover without medication. However, the specific clinical individual differences vary, and decisions should be based on the child's constitution, the quantity of the pathogen, and specific symptoms. If symptoms such as paroxysmal spasmodic coughing or a bark-like cough, which are typical of respiratory infections, appear, it generally will not heal on its own and requires anti-inflammatory medications to eliminate the pathogens and symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Can whooping cough recur?

Pertussis, a respiratory infectious disease, is contagious and mainly transmitted through airborne droplets. Once infected and treated promptly and properly, the body will develop immunity and produce antibodies, though not for life. Relapse is possible, but generally, it does not recur within three to five years after recovery. If symptoms of cold and cough appear, it is possible that they are caused by other pathogens or allergic factors.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What does whooping cough mean?

Whooping cough is the name of a disease. It is called whooping cough because the course of the disease is relatively long, and it could potentially last for nearly a hundred days. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that one will cough for a hundred days; it's just a general term indicating that the disease has a long duration and tends to recur easily. This disease is a respiratory infectious disease, transmitted and spread through airborne droplets in clinical settings, with the main pathogens being Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Bordetella pertussis, among others. Personal hygiene habits in daily life should be paid attention to, and once diagnosed, antibiotics should be selected in time for anti-inflammatory treatment.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What is the pertussis vaccine?

The pertussis vaccine we currently administer is a combination vaccine that primarily includes diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus, commonly referred to as the DTP vaccine. It is generally administered for the first time when a baby is three months old, the second dose at four months of age, and the third dose at five months. A booster vaccine is given again when the child is one and a half to two years old to produce antibodies that can effectively prevent pertussis, a respiratory infectious disease. It is important to detect early, vaccinate in a timely manner, and prevent early.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Treatment methods for pertussis in children

The treatment methods for pertussis in children mainly involve anti-inflammatory processes, along with etiological treatment. Pertussis in children typically requires the selection of antimicrobial drugs to eradicate Bordetella pertussis. Clinically, macrolide antibiotics are primarily chosen, such as erythromycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin. Also, depending on the nature of the cough, some central antitussive agents or cough and phlegm relieving drugs can be used to alleviate the symptoms of cough. Additionally, in the acute phase of inflammation where fever is present, antipyretic analgesics should be taken for symptomatic treatment. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a doctor.)