Whooping cough exposure guide

Whooping cough exposure prevention online

For anyone 4 or older with no symptoms who was close to someone whose whooping cough was confirmed by a test, a doctor, or the health department, in the last 21 days. A parent or guardian answers for a child.

Start online

Start a $59 online review for Whooping cough exposure.

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a germ that spreads by coughing. It can be very dangerous for babies. If you were close to someone who has it, an antibiotic called azithromycin can lower your chance of getting sick and spreading it. You take it once a day for 5 days, and you need to start within 21 days. This visit is only for people with no symptoms: a cough, a runny or stuffy nose, or a fever needs a test and care in person.

If treatment is appropriate, your physician can send a non-controlled prescription to your pharmacy and provide portal instructions for the next step.

Start this visit See response times

Quick facts

You must be physically located in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of request.
Starts at $59
No insurance needed
No app download
Physician review around the clock
Non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy when appropriate
A work or school note can be included when medically appropriate
Response times apply 24/7, every day

Common symptoms

No symptoms now, but you were close to someone with whooping cough
The sick person's whooping cough was confirmed by a test, a doctor, or the health department
You live with the sick person, or spent time near them face to face
You want to lower the chance of getting sick and spreading it, especially around babies

May fit online care

Adults & children 4+ (with a parent or legal guardian)
You are 4 or older (a parent or guardian answers for a child)
You have no cough, no runny or stuffy nose, and no fever
You were close to the sick person in their first 3 weeks of illness
It has been 21 days or less

Look for another care setting

Trouble breathing, fainting, or a fast or pounding heartbeat that will not stop (call 911).
A cough, a runny or stuffy nose, or a fever now (get a test and care in person today).
Contact more than 21 days ago, or only after the sick person's first 3 weeks of illness or after they took azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, or Bactrim for 5 days.
Pregnancy or possible pregnancy (call your pregnancy doctor today).
A child younger than 4 (call the child's doctor today).
An allergy to azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, or a similar antibiotic, or liver problems after azithromycin before.
Heart disease, a heart rhythm problem, long QT, a slow heartbeat, or heart failure, a medicine that can change the heart rhythm, or low potassium or magnesium.
Myasthenia gravis, liver disease, or kidney failure.
Warfarin, digoxin, colchicine, phenytoin, or nelfinavir.
A sick person whose germ resists azithromycin.

What to have ready

When the sick person's cough started, and how whooping cough was found
When you were last near them
Every medicine you take, including any heart rhythm medicine
For a child, the child's weight

What happens next

Standard

$59

Within 6 hours

Priority

$99

Within 3 hours

Rush

$149

Within 1 hour

Start the request on the website, answer a few questions to check that this visit fits you, and choose how fast you want an answer (the response window). If your concern still fits this service, a physician reviews it and sends you a secure update after you sign in. When appropriate, non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy, and a basic work or school note can be included at physician discretion.

Your physician

Every visit is personally reviewed by Ankur Fadia, MD. He is board-certified, has extra training in heart care (a cardiology fellowship), and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. He is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia, and your care is never handed off to someone else.

About Ankur Fadia, MD Verify Virginia medical license Verify West Virginia medical license Verify board certification

How does the medicine help after a whooping cough exposure?

Azithromycin can lower your chance of getting whooping cough and of spreading it. Adults take 500 mg on the first day, then 250 mg once a day for 4 more days. Children take a dose based on their weight.

What if I already have a cough or a runny nose?

Whooping cough starts like a cold. If you have a cough, a runny or stuffy nose, or a fever, please get a whooping cough test and care in person today. If you have trouble breathing, faint, or have a fast or pounding heartbeat that will not stop, call 911.

Do I still need to watch for signs after the medicine?

Yes. Watch for signs for 21 days after you were last near the sick person, even if you take the medicine. If you get a cough, a runny or stuffy nose, or a fever, get a test and care in person that day.

Other conditions we treat

Not quite what you have? Here are other conditions we treat.

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