Using hydrogen peroxide is not an effective remedy for whooping cough

In 2025, whooping cough cases in the United States rose to levels higher than those seen before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite circulating social media claims, using hydrogen peroxide as a treatment is ineffective and potentially hazardous. Experts emphasize that vaccination and antibiotics are the proven methods to prevent and treat the disease.

One widely shared Facebook post from November 14, 2025 touted hydrogen peroxide as a "safe and inexpensive miracle solution" capable of treating whooping cough. The image from the post, which lists multiple uses for hydrogen peroxide, has been circulating across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok since 2012 and gained renewed attention in late 2025 as respiratory illnesses increased.

While hydrogen peroxide is effective at disinfecting surfaces and killing bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, and is commonly used in mouthwash, toothpaste, and for whitening clothes, it has no proven benefit against whooping cough. The illness, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause severe coughing fits, especially in infants, sometimes leading to difficulty breathing. Children often contract the disease from adults who show only mild symptoms.

"Antibiotics remain the only effective cure," explained Kari Guffey, co-coordinator for the graduate pediatric nurse practitioner program at Baylor University. "A course of azithromycin or another macrolide can resolve pertussis, especially when treatment begins early." Families may also be treated to prevent further spread, though the cough can persist temporarily.

Risks of Unproven Remedies

False claims suggesting inhalation of hydrogen peroxide to treat respiratory illnesses have continued since the Covid-19 pandemic. Some posts advocate using it in nebulizers, but the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America strongly warns against inhaling the solution. Guffey added that there is no reason to put hydrogen peroxide in a nebulizer or humidifier, as it does not affect the bacteria in the lungs and may worsen coughing.

Other unsafe suggestions include placing hydrogen peroxide drops in a child's ear. Experts confirm there is no mechanism for such use to treat a lung infection. Additionally, some posts have promoted hydrogen peroxide as a cancer treatment or suggested ingesting it, both of which are dangerous and unsupported by evidence. Ingesting hydrogen peroxide can lead to tissue damage, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches.

Vaccination and Prevention

The most effective way to prevent whooping cough is through vaccination. Infants and young children receive the DTaP series, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Adults are encouraged to get Tdap boosters, particularly during the third trimester of pregnancy, to protect newborns.

"Vaccination is the single most reliable method to prevent whooping cough," said Zach Farley, assistant professor of public health at Western Kentucky University. Before the DTaP vaccine became widely used in the 1940s, whooping cough claimed the lives of thousands of children annually in the U.S. Despite vaccination programs, preliminary CDC data show that cases in 2025 were higher than in the years immediately preceding the pandemic, partly due to declining vaccine coverage among children.

Routine vaccination rates for U.S. kindergarten children have dropped since 2019, with more exemptions requested. In 2024, ten deaths were reported, and Kentucky recorded three deaths in unvaccinated children within a year. Farley described these deaths as preventable with proper vaccination and early intervention.

Experts also recommend maintaining good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs, to reduce the risk of infection.

Author: Riley Thompson