Follow the NHS guidance on whooping cough if you think you or a family member has whooping cough.
If your doctor says you have whooping cough, you'll be expected to stay away from work, school, or nursery. This will help to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other people.
Young babies, particularly those under 6-months-old, can be very poorly if whooping cough infection is passed onto them. Many need to be taken into hospital. Sadly, in some cases, whooping cough can be fatal.
Whooping cough in older children and adults can be distressing and problematic and cause health problems.
How whooping cough can be prevented
The NHS offers a free and effective vaccine to protect against whooping cough.
It's offered to those who are pregnant, and children as part of the routine NHS vaccines.
Check your child's Personal Child Health Record PCHR (in the UK also known as the 'red book') to see if they are up-to-date with their whooping cough vaccine.
Vaccination against whooping cough during pregnancy
As babies cannot be vaccinated until they are 8-weeks-old, having the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy means protection can be passed onto the baby from mum.
If you are pregnant check with your health care professional to see if you have received your whooping cough vaccine. Contact your midwife to arrange it if you still need to have it.
It's important the vaccines are given on time for the best protection. If you or a family member has missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.