Linda Shaw commented about preventing the disease is easier than the
treatment.
I would like to comment about my breastfed (!) childrent who were not
vaccinated and contracted pertussis.  The first was 2 and once the whoop
was heard he was treated with anti biotics.  Unnecessaryat this stage of
the  "game.".    As I understand the disease is no longer spreadable once
the person is into the whooping phase and the medicine doesn't help make
the symptoms less agonizing.   The first child slept with us during his
illness, never vomitted.  I sat him up during attacks.

The 2nd child was 10 when it hit.  The attacks are frightening to a
mother's ears (father doesn't react to these coughs in his sleep.)  The
only problems both children had were at night.  Consequently, I don't
recall that Robin missed a day of school since I wasn't aware that he had
more than a cough.  I finally did get some plant medicines to help loosen
the secrete once the whoops were evident.  He also never vomitted..  

And that's the real problem with this disease - it is so hidden and spreads
so easily with coughs from child to friend to friend's new sibling (for
ex.).  Coughs can mean so many things and we just don't stop our lives any
longer and isolate ourselves from others like in my father's childhood. 
Just not done for coughs or drippy noses, anyway.

Anne Kaeser, IBCLC
Germany