Common Causes
Pertussis (whooping cough) can cause serious illness in babies, children, teens, and adults. Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within 5 to 10 days after you are exposed. Sometimes pertussis symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks. The disease usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever.
Related Conditions
These toxins damage the cilia, cause airways to swell, and result in coughing spells that end with a whooping sound as air is breathed in. Who is at risk for whooping cough?
What are the symptoms of pertussis (whooping cough)?
Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits It is important to know that many babies with pertussis don’t cough at all. Instead it causes them to stop breathing and turn blue.
Why does my cough sound like whooping cough?
On This Page. Pertussis (whooping cough) can cause serious illness in babies, children, teens, and adults. Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within 5 to 10 days after you are exposed. Sometimes pertussis symptoms do not develop for as long as 3 weeks.
How do you know if your baby has pertussis?
How long does it take to develop symptoms of pertussis?
How do you know if your cough is whooping cough?
After 1 to 2 weeks and as the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include: Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound. Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits. Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits.
Is pertussis a dry or wet cough?
The first symptoms of pertussis may be similar to those of a common cold, including nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, red and watery eyes, mild fever, and a dry cough. After about one week to 2 weeks, the dry cough becomes a wet cough that brings up thick, stringy mucus.
What sound does whooping cough sound like?
The cough is due to lots of thick mucus in the lungs and throat, which can make it hard to breathe. In toddlers and children, coughing spells often last a minute or longer and can cause: A loud “whoop” at the end of the cough. This is the sound of the child trying to get air back into his or her lungs.
What are the 3 stages of whooping cough?
Pertussis is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. This disease has 3 stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent.
How do you rule out pertussis?
You should test with PCR from NP specimens taken at 0 to 3 weeks following cough onset. PCR may also provide accurate results for up to 4 weeks. After the fourth week of cough, the amount of bacterial DNA in the nasopharynx rapidly diminishes, which increases the risk of obtaining falsely-negative results.
Do you cough up mucus with pertussis?
The bouts usually last a few minutes at a time and tend to be more common at night. Coughing usually brings up thick mucus and may be followed by vomiting. Between coughs, you or your child may gasp for breath – this may cause a "whoop" sound, although not everyone has this.
What is the difference between RSV and whooping cough?
Cases of pertussis were more likely to have apnoea, cyanosis, and lymphocytosis while RSV infections had more frequent fever, vomiting and respiratory distress.
What's the difference between croup and whooping cough?
Croup is hoarse seal-like bark whereas whooping cough has a high pitched gasping sound. Plus most children show mild symptoms of croup. Whooping is much worse, and very painful. Very severe croup can sound like that, but it's rare.
Is whooping cough worse at night?
Runny nose, sneezing, and low-grade fevers are typical. Unlike a cold, though, pertussis infection doesn't clear up in a week or so. The nasal congestion resolves, but is replaced by periods of intense coughing. In this second phase of pertussis, coughing fits occur once every one to two hours and are worse at night.
What illness mimics whooping cough?
Parapertussis is a disease that affects the lungs. Parapertussis is similar to pertussis (whooping cough), but is less severe.
How long does pertussis cough last?
Whooping cough can last up to 10 weeks and can lead to pneumonia and other complications. The symptoms of whooping cough may look like other medical conditions. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis.
When should I worry about my child's cough?
Call your doctor if your child is coughing and breathing faster than normal, coughing up blood, vomiting persistently, turning red or purple while coughing, has a high fever, making whooping sounds or has stridor, having trouble swallowing, is wheezing, or otherwise seems very sick and tired.
What are the 4 types of cough?
Coughing is your body's way to clear an irritant from your throat, airway and lungs. The four main types of coughs are: wet, dry, paroxysmal and croup. Most coughs do go away on their own. Home remedies and over-the-counter cough medicines can help relieve symptoms.
What is the difference between croup and whooping cough?
Croup is hoarse seal-like bark whereas whooping cough has a high pitched gasping sound. Plus most children show mild symptoms of croup. Whooping is much worse, and very painful. Very severe croup can sound like that, but it's rare.
What is a wet cough?
Wet cough: Coughing up mucus from the airway makes the cough sound “wet,” as mucus shifts in the airway. Dry cough: Also known as a hacking cough, this cough has a consistent tone because it is free from the sound of mucus. It is caused by irritation and inflammation of the airway.
What causes a dry cough?
A tickling sensation in the throat can make you have a dry cough. Dry coughs can come on after a cold or flu or if you have COVID-19. Other conditions like GERD, heart failure and lung cancer can cause chronic dry coughs. You may also have chest tightness with a dry cough.
How long does it take for a cough to go away from pertussis?
The cough becomes milder and less common. However, coughing fits can return with other respiratory infections for many months after the pertussis infection started.
How long does pertussis last?
Learn more about pertussis complications. Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include: Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease) Pertussis in its early stages appears to be nothing more than the common cold.
How long does a coughing fit last?
The coughing fits can go on for up to 10 weeks or more . In China, pertussis is known as the “100 day cough.”. The “whoop” is often not there if you have milder (less serious) disease. The infection is generally milder in teens and adults, especially those who have gotten the pertussis vaccine. image icon.
What is a pause in breathing in a baby?
Apnea – a pause in breathing (in babies) Pertussis in its early stages appears to be nothing more than the common cold. Therefore, healthcare professionals often do not suspect or diagnose it until the more severe symptoms appear.
Can coughing make you tired?
This extreme coughing can cause you to throw up and be very tired. Although you are often exhausted after a coughing fit, you usually appear fairly well in-between. Coughing fits generally become more common and bad as the illness continues, and can occur more often at night.
Is it dangerous to have a baby with Pertussis?
Babies may have a symptom known as “apnea.”. Apnea is a pause in the child’s breathing pattern. Pertussis is most dangerous for babies. About half of babies younger than 1 year who get the disease need care in the hospital. Learn more about pertussis complications.
How long does it take for a whooping cough to show?
Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear, though it can sometimes take longer. They're usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold: Runny nose. Nasal congestion. Red, watery eyes.
How to prevent whooping cough?
The best way to prevent whooping cough is with the pertussis vaccine, which doctors often give in combination with vaccines against two other serious diseases — diphtheria and tetanus. Doctors recommend beginning vaccination during infancy.
What causes a person to cough and sneeze?
Causes. Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed into the air and breathed into the lungs of anyone who happens to be nearby.
Can a teenager recover from whooping cough?
Teens and adults often recover from whooping cough with no problems. When complications occur, they tend to be side effects of the strenuous coughing, such as:
Can infants cough?
Infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may struggle to breathe, or they may even temporarily stop breathing.
Can a hacking cough cause fatigue?
However, many people don't develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough. Infants may not cough at all.
How do you know if you have a whooping cough?
Recovery. Whooping cough gets its name from its most famous symptom -- a "whoop" sound you might make when you gasp for air at the end of a coughing fit. But it doesn't happen in all adults, so it's important to learn the range of symptoms you might get -- from a runny nose to a hacking cough that you can't seem to shake.
What happens if you have a whooping cough?
If you have whooping cough, your cough will become more frequent and more severe.
What test do you take to see if you have a whooping cough?
Your doctor will take a mucus sample and send it to a lab. Technicians will test it to see if it contains the bacteria that causes whooping cough. Your doctor may also suggest blood tests to check your white blood cell count, a general sign of infection.
How long does a cough last in China?
Your cough might stick with you for 1 to 2 months or more. People in China call it the "100-day cough" because it lingers so long. You might also have higher chances of getting a respiratory infection during this time.
Can you break a rib during a coughing fit?
The hacking cough can make some people throw up or feel exhausted. You could even break a rib during a coughing fit.
What is whooping cough (pertussis)?
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is very contagious and mainly affects infants and young children . Whooping cough is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis. The illness is characterized by coughing spells that end with a characteristic "whoop" as air is inhaled. Whooping cough caused thousands of deaths in the 1930s and 1940s. With the advent of a vaccine, the death rate has declined dramatically. Pertussis vaccines are very effective. However, if pertussis is circulating in the community, there is a possibility that even a fully vaccinated person could catch the disease. Babies who are too young to receive the vaccine are also at very high risk of catching pertussis. The illness can be very serious, even sometimes fatal, in young infants. Many babies infected with pertussis have caught it from an adult.
How is whooping cough diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, diagnosis of whooping cough is often confirmed with a culture taken from the nose.
How long does it take for a whooping cough to start?
Usually, after a week or two, severe coughing begins. The following are the most common symptoms of whooping cough. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Infants younger than age 6 months may not have a classic whooping cough, or it may be difficult to hear.
What does it mean when an infant has a pause in breathing?
Instead of coughing, infants may have a pause in their breathing, called apnea, which is very serious. You should consult your health care provider or call 911 if you observe pauses in breathing. Symptoms of whooping cough may include:
What is whooping cough (pertussis)?
It mainly affects infants and young children. But adults can also get it. Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis . Symptoms include coughing spells that end with a "whooping" sound as air is breathed in. Whooping cough caused thousands of deaths in the 1930s and 1940s. The pertussis vaccine has made the death rate go down dramatically. Pertussis vaccines work very well. But if pertussis is circulating in the community, it is possible that even a fully vaccinated person could catch the disease. Babies who are too young to get the vaccine are also at very high risk of catching pertussis. The illness can be very serious, even sometimes deadly, in young infants. Many babies infected with pertussis have caught it from an adult.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
The disease starts like the common cold. There is a runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and sometimes a mild cough or fever. Often, after a week or two, severe coughing begins. Below are the most common symptoms of whooping cough. But each person may have slightly different symptoms. Infants younger than 6 months old may not have a classic whooping cough, or it may be hard to hear. Instead of coughing, infants may have a pause in their breathing (apnea), which is very serious. Talk with your healthcare provider or call 911 right away if you notice pauses in your breathing. Symptoms of whooping cough may include:
How is whooping cough diagnosed?
In addition to doing a complete health history and physical exam, your healthcare provider may take a sample of fluid from your nose. This is sent to a lab to confirm the diagnosis.
How long does a whooping cough last?
Whooping cough can last up to 10 weeks. It can lead to pneumonia and other complications.
How do you know if you have a whooping cough?
Symptoms of whooping cough are listed below. Fatigue and malaise: These begin within the first one to two weeks of the condition in the catarrhal phase. Low-grade fever: This often develops as the bacteria infect the individual and occurs during the catarrhal phase. Excessive tearing. Red eyes.
How long does whooping cough last?
As previously discussed, the condition is generally divided into the catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent stages. The catarrhal stage is the earliest and usually lasts one to two weeks.
What is the cause of whooping cough?
Whooping cough causes. Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria multiply in the respiratory tract over the course of seven to 10 days after the bug has lodged itself on the throat and nasal mucosa. This infection is highly contagious and is spread from person-to-person through the respiratory droplets expelled ...
Why is it called 100 day cough?
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which affects the respiratory systems of children, adolescents, and adults. Whooping cough has also been called the “100-day cough” because of its extended time course. The symptoms classically associated with whooping cough are a sudden, uncontrollable coughing spell ...
How many phases are there in Whooping Cough?
The course of the condition is generally divided up into three phases — catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent phases. The symptoms of the condition generally change over the course of these phases. Whooping cough is highly contagious and generally spread through respiratory droplets. The DTaP or Tdap vaccines are used to prevent the spread ...
How long does it take to get antibiotics for whooping cough?
These recommendations state that any person presenting with whooping cough within three weeks of the onset of the cough should receive treatment with antibiotics.
Can coughing cause abdominal hernia?
Development or worsening of an abdominal hernia: The contraction of abdominal muscles used in coughing increases the overall pressure within the abdomen. This increase in intra-abdominal pressure can force movement of organs through membranes within the abdomen. Hernias can be seen around the belly button, lower abdomen, or groin regions.
Overview
A reflex action involving sudden noisy expulsion of air from the lungs.
Cough is not always related to an underlying condition. It may be caused by:
- Irritants such as smoke, dust
- Drug side effects
- Improperly swallowing food or water
- Post nasal drip
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Complications
- After 1 to 2 weeks and as the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include: 1. Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound 2. Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits 3. Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits Pertussis can cause violent and rapid coughing, over...
Prevention