Contagious Period for Whooping Cough: An Overview
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious infection. A person is most likely to transmit the whooping cough bacteria when he or she is experiencing symptoms, especially during the first three weeks of
whooping cough symptoms.
Suggestions for Preventing Transmission of Whooping Cough
Because the first symptoms of whooping cough (which typically develop during the first week or so of the illness) are similar to the
common cold, parents can help protect their very young infants by minimizing their exposure to people who have
cold symptoms or cough illness. Coughing people of any age -- including parents, siblings, and grandparents -- can have whooping cough. When a person has cold symptoms or cough illness, they need to stay away from young infants as much as possible.
When Do Whooping Cough Symptoms Appear?
The whooping cough incubation period is the time between becoming infected with whooping cough bacteria (Bordetella pertussis) and developing symptoms. The incubation period is commonly 7 to 10 days, but it can range from 4 to 21 days and, in rare cases, may be as long as 42 days.
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