The coughing fits then increase significantly and often lead to vomiting. The disease lasts around three months and serious complications, including deaths, occur mainly in infants. It is therefore important to protect children by vaccinating them as early as possible.

The time between infection with the pathogen and the onset of the disease is seven to 14 (or 20) days in the case of whooping cough. Infection is possible for three weeks from the onset of coughing. Antibiotics reduce this period to four days.

If there isan unvaccinated baby - or another person at risk - in your family, please inform the pediatrician even if the sibling who attends Kindergarten or school has been vaccinated, as even vaccinated children can transmit the bacteria and infect others. In these cases, an antibiotic will be given as a precaution.

Contact persons who have been vaccinated in the past five years may continue to attend community facilities. Coughing, unvaccinated children are not allowed to attend the facility! Sick children can return to the community facility at the earliest five days after starting antibiotic treatment. Without antibiotic therapy, re-admission is only possible three weeks after the first symptoms appear. A doctor's certificate is not mandatory if parents certify the antibiotic therapy.