The Symptoms of Whopping Cough and How to Deal with Them

Whooping cough is the more common name for an infectious condition known as pertussis. The characteristic symptom of whopping cough is a loud 'whoop' noise that the individual makes when they try to inhale during a coughing episode. Pertussis is highly infectious and up until about fifty years ago it was very common for children to need to deal with this type of respiratory tract infection. These days there are fewer cases of pertussis in most countries but new outbreaks do occasionally occur. Although whopping cough is most associated with children there are many adults who develop this infection; in fact in recent years it has been mostly adults who have needed to deal with it.

What are the Symptoms of Whopping Cough?

In the beginning the symptoms of whopping cough can easily be mistaking as being due to a cold or pollen allergy. The individual will experience things such as;

- A congested nose/ runny nose/ sneezing

- A low grade fever

- Dry Cough

- Watery/ red eyes

These mild symptoms can remain for a week or two before developing onto the symptoms of whopping cough that differentiate it from other infections. These include;

- Coughing fits with a whooping noise when the individual tries to catch their breath

- Vomiting brought on by the coughing fits

- Tiredness

- The production of a thick phlegm

Rarer symptoms of whopping cough can include;

- Seizures

- Earache

Some individuals with pertussis have been known to develop encephalopathy. This is a disorder of the brain and it can be very serious.

What to Do if You Suspect Symptoms of Whopping Cough

The important thing is to seek treatment if you suspect that you may have acquired this infection. It is usually diagnosed following a blood test or throat swab. Treating the infection is usually quite straight forward and can be done with antibiotics. Cough medicine may also be prescribed but these don't tend to be very effective. Very young children may need to be hospitalized as they are most at risk from the infection.

Whooping cough is nowhere near as common as it once was, but it still occasionally makes a comeback. Once it is diagnosed it is usually easy to treat with antibiotics. Anyone who suspects they may have the symptoms of whooping cough should seek medical advice.

Sources

WebMd - Whooping Cough (Pertussis) - Topic Overview (accessed 26^th June 2010)

Mayo Clinic - Whooping cough (accessed 26^th June 2010)