There are still several thousand cases reported annually throughout the United States. During the earlier stages, the disease can be treated with the antibiotic erythromycin, which sometimes can prevent it from progressing to a more severe stage. However, once the disease progresses to include severe coughing spasms, antibiotics are not effective. Hospitalization is sometimes recommended, and with proper care, regular hydration, and suction to keep blocked nasal passages clear, the coughing spasms eventually disappear. Because whooping cough can be easily prevented with a series of regular immunizations, Hollingsworth urges parents to be certain that their children are immunized.
Whooping cough is rare for a reason, and regular vaccines can keep it that way.