I lost my 4wo to whooping cough - if I had a booster shot he may still be here

There has been an alarming increase in whooping cough cases this year alone, with doctors warning we may be on the verge of an epidemic.

Alexandra Feiam

4 min read

November 9, 2023 - 12:31PM

What you need to know about whooping cough

Family Life

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It was the day before Valentine’s Day in 2015 when Riley was born.

A strong and healthy boy, his parents, Catherine and Greg Hughes, knew their family was complete. It's been eight years since their three-year-old daughter Olivia first locked eyes on Riley, but it remains one of Catherine's fondest memories.

However, in four short weeks, their entire world was flipped upside down when Riley was diagnosed with whooping cough.

Now, Catherine is urging other parents to stay vigilant as cases in Australia are increasing at frightening rates, and doctors are suggesting we’re overdue for an epidemic.

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Riley was only a few weeks old when he developed a nasty cough. Source: Supplied

Newborn’s cough was so severe he needed oxygen to breathe

The weeks that followed Riley’s birth were a blur, Catherine said, filled with nappies, breastfeeding and endless cuddles. “Friends and family dropped by with gifts and meals, helping us adjust to life with two children,” she recalled.

The Perth family adjusted to their new life, taking walks through the park and letting Olivia run around while Riley would relax with Catherine in the shade. “We were so happy,” she said.

At three weeks old, Riley started showing signs of a “sniffle, " slowly developing into a small cough. Catherine called the doctor, but he “assured me that Riley was fine.” Despite the all-clear from the GP, she “couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.”

That night, Catherine slept “solidly” but woke to realise her son hadn’t made a peep. “Why hadn’t Riley woken for his feed?” she asked herself, rushing to his bassinet in a panic.

“He was soundly sleeping, so I picked him up and tried feeding him, but he just wasn’t interested,” she said.

Catherine took Riley to Princess Margaret Hospital as a precaution, and “after a day or two in hospital, one of his doctors listened closely to his cough and looked at us, concerned.” After a swab test, the doctor’s worst fears were confirmed: Riley had whooping cough.

“I was relieved that we had a diagnosis, but I was also scared,” Catherine said. “I had heard about whooping cough, and I knew that it was a serious illness.”

In the blink of an eye, Riley’s condition deteriorated. “His cough became severe, and he needed oxygen to breathe,” Catherine recalled. “He developed pneumonia and was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit.”

Riley’s body was riddled with infection, but his family could do nothing to help, just watching him while he was on life support.

Devastatingly, his body couldn’t handle the stress, and he passed away on 17 March 2015. “He was just 32 days old, and too young to have received his first whooping cough vaccine,” Catherine told Kidspot.

Riley's cough was so severe he required oxygen. Source: Supplied

Whooping cough cases more than doubled in Australia

Alarmingly, there has been more than double the number of whooping cough cases in Australia this year, with cases in NSW five times higher than last year.

As we approach summer, when whooping cough usually peaks, doctors urge parents to be extra vigilant.

“It’s only a matter of time before we see a resurgence of whooping cough, quite possibly in the Spring and Summer months when infections traditionally spike,” said Professor Robert Booy, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Sydney.

“We’ve seen years when whooping cough infections in Australia have neared 40,000, so we must be alert to signs of a pending epidemic.”

Whooping cough is often called the “100-day cough” and is highly contagious - especially to babies and infants, but also affects adults.

Those with whooping cough will usually have a runny nose, mild cough, fever and loss in appetite or vomiting. “The characteristic whooping sound after a coughing fit, although not always present in young babies,” Catherine added.

“Considering we have seen case numbers more than double compared to last year, Australians of all ages need to be vigilant, ensuring they are up-to-date on their whooping cough immunisations,” she said.

“Many of us can't recall when we had our last whooping cough booster, and to help protect ourselves and others, we really should have a booster at least every ten years.”

Catherine is urging for parents to get their booster shots. Source: Supplied

Keeping Riley’s legacy alive by fighting for vaccine access

In the last few days of Riley’s life, Catherine learned of the importance of getting a whopping cough booster shot during her third trimester. “If I had been offered a whooping cough booster during pregnancy, there is a good chance Riley would still be with us today,” she said in a heartbreaking Facebook post in 2015.

Two days after Riley’s death, the WA government announced free whooping cough vaccinations for pregnant women, which was soon followed by other states.

After the death of Riley, Catherine worked tirelessly and was “determined to galvanise the community to improve vaccination rates and heighten awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases.”

She founded the Immunisation Foundation of Australia to improve vaccination rates. “Fortunately, babies who are too young to be vaccinated can now receive excellent protection via pregnancy vaccination,” Catherine told Kidspot.

In 2022, she was awarded an Order of Australia for raising awareness of vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough and RSV.

Despite the whooping cough booster available to pregnant women, she argued there is “huge room for improvement when it comes to reducing the spread of whooping cough in the broader community.”

“Riley may have lost his fight with whooping cough, but his death has sparked a movement to protect other babies from preventable diseases,” she said.

“We are determined to keep Riley's legacy alive by fighting for vaccine equity and access.”

Australians can check their vaccination status by talking to a doctor, pharmacist, or by accessing their Immunisation History Statement via the Express Plus Medicare app.