Signs and Symptoms of Whooping Cough
Medically reviewed by Daniel Combs, MDMedically reviewed by Daniel Combs, MDWhooping cough, medically known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that can lead to extreme coughing fits. Caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria, whooping cough infections are very contagious. They can spread through respiratory droplets or when you touch your nose or mouth after touching an infected surface. Whooping cough most commonly affects children, but adults can get it too—especially if they are not fully vaccinated against the infection.After exposure to whooping cough, symptoms may not appear for several days or weeks. The condition often resembles a common cold in the beginning stage. Within a week or two, however, symptoms progress to severe coughing fits. Inhaling after this type of coughing can sound like a “whoop,” hence the name of the condition. The coughing fits can lead to other symptoms like vomiting, fatigue, and disrupted sleep. Knowing the symptoms of whooping cough in infants, children, and adults can help you get the timely care you may need to prevent complications and further spread.
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Common SymptomsWhooping cough symptoms usually begin 7-10 days after you are exposed to the pertussis bacteria. However, symptoms may take as little as five days or as many as three weeks to develop. Most adults and children have cold-like symptoms in the beginning, which then progress to coughing fits. The cough may linger for weeks or months, even after treatment with antibiotics.The coughing gets less severe and less frequent over time until it goes away. However, coughing fits may return with future respiratory infections, even several months after the original bout of whooping cough resolves.Symptoms by StageMost children and adults experience three stages, or phases, of whooping cough: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent. Each phase brings different symptoms or symptom severity.Catarrhal PhaseIn this first stage of whooping cough, symptoms resemble those of a cold or other minor respiratory infection. These symptoms typically last for one to two weeks and may include:Runny noseNasal congestionLow-grade feverWatery or bloodshot eyesTirednessIf treatment with antibiotics is started during or soon after this phase, the next two phases may be milder and shorter. With early treatment, you will also be contagious for a shorter time. Without treatment, you will be contagious for about three weeks, during which you should isolate.Paroxysmal PhaseIn the next phase of whooping cough, the initial cold-like symptoms may go away. In their place, severe coughing fits develop (also known as paroxysms). These fits may be so severe that you gasp for air during or afterward, creating a "whoop" sound as you inhale. This phase typically lasts about one to six weeks but can last longer.People with whooping cough experience an average of 15 coughing fits per day in this phase. Several things can trigger these coughing fits. For instance, anything that requires a sudden intake of air, like yawning, laughing, or exercising, can bring on an attack. Cold air or irritants in the air, like smoke, also can trigger a coughing fit.Coughing violently can lead to other symptoms as well, such as:Trouble sleeping, as coughing fits commonly occur at nightVomitingTrouble breathingLoss of bladder control (incontinence)Light-headedness or faintingHeadacheNosebleedsCracked ribA tear in a muscle or tissue (hernia)Serious complications are also possible in this stage. People at particularly high risk for serious complications include infants, adults with lung conditions like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and people who have never received a pertussis vaccine. Severe complications of whooping cough can include:Pneumonia, a lung infectionBrief periods of time in which breathing stops (apnea)Brain dysfunction (encephalopathy) stemming from a lack of oxygen or the toxin released by the pertussis bacteriaCollapsed lungSeizuresBlood collecting between the brain and the skull (subdural hematoma)DeathConvalescent PhaseDuring the final phase of whooping cough, the coughing fits gradually become less severe and happen less often until they go away. This phase will likely last a few weeks, but the characteristic cough can suddenly come back even months later.Coughing fits often occur with future respiratory infections. However, eventually, most people make a full recovery from whooping cough.Symptoms in ChildrenWhile older children experience similar symptoms to those of adults, whooping cough may present differently in infants. Infants may not develop a cough at all. The main symptom in infants is trouble breathing, which may appear as:Labored, fast, or shallow breathingApneaA change in lip or skin color, such as lighter tones turning blue, due to a lack of oxygenInfants are also at much higher risk for life-threatening complications from whooping cough. This is especially true for those who have not received a full course of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine, and those whose birthing parents did not receive the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during pregnancy.Serious complications in infants can include:PneumoniaHeart failureCollapsed lungBleeding or dysfunction in the brainConvulsionsAbnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia)Dangerously high blood pressure in the lungs that is hard to treat (refractory pulmonary hypertension)Dangerously low overall blood pressure (systemic hypotension)Up to half of infants under age 1 with whooping cough need to be hospitalized for treatment. The younger an infant is, the more likely they will need to be treated in a hospital.When to Contact a Healthcare ProviderBordetella pertussis will clear out of your system on its own in about three weeks. Most people can recover from whooping cough without treatment. However, it is important to get treated with antibiotics as soon as possible to protect the people around you from contracting the infection and protect both of you from complications. Although whooping cough itself is not particularly dangerous, its complications can be.If you or your child has cold-like symptoms along with any trouble breathing, contact your healthcare provider right away. Questions To Ask Your ProviderMake sure to ask your healthcare provider all your questions about whooping cough. You may want to consider asking the following:Do I need to take an antibiotic for my whooping cough?What can I do at home to make the symptoms go away as soon as possible?What complications am I at risk for? What signs of whooping cough should I look for in my baby, and how do I know if I need to take my baby to the hospital?When should I get vaccinated and vaccinate my child for pertussis?
A Quick ReviewWhooping cough, or pertussis, is a very contagious bacterial infection. It usually causes multiple coughing fits a day, during which you make a distinctive "whoop" sound when inhaling. However, the early symptoms of whooping cough in adults resemble those of a cold, and infants may never develop a cough. If you suspect you or a loved one has symptoms of whooping cough, consider reaching out to a healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment can help keep your symptoms mild and shorter-lasting.Frequently Asked Questions
Will whooping cough symptoms go away by themselves?
The bacteria that causes a whooping cough infection will clear out of your system on its own in a few weeks. So, your symptoms will likely eventually resolve without treatment within a few weeks or months. However, getting treated with antibiotics while the bacteria is still active will make you less contagious and reduce your and others’ risks for serious complications from whooping cough.
What are the three stages of a whooping cough?
The first stage of whooping cough is the catarrhal stage, in which you may have cold-like symptoms such as a stuffy nose and low-grade fever. The second stage is the paroxysmal stage, where the characteristic “whooping” cough begins. In this stage, coughing fits may become severe and may lead to complications. The final stage is the convalescent stage, where symptoms resolve gradually over several weeks or months.
What can whooping cough be mistaken for?
Especially during the first week or two of the infection, whooping cough symptoms may be similar to those of other respiratory infections. You may mistake whooping cough for an upper respiratory infection like a cold. If you have a more severe case, you might mistake whooping cough for bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
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