Symptoms of Whooping Cough

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an acute, bacterial respiratory infection. Its causative organism is the bacterium, Bordetella pertussis. Another organism, B. parapertussis causes parapertussis, a less severe form of this disease. It is a highly contagious infection that transmits from one person to another through coughing, sneezing or laughing. Whooping cough is marked by severe coughing with the sound like 'whoop'. It is more common in infants and kids who have not received an immunization. Immunization with pertussis vaccine can prevent whooping cough. Pertussis vaccine is usually administered in combination with the vaccines for tetanus and diphtheria. Still, thousands of people are diagnosed with whopping cough every year in the United States.

Signs and Symptoms of Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is an infection of the respiratory tract, which mainly affects bronchi and trachea. The bacteria multiply inside the airways and produce toxins. There is an accumulation of thick mucus inside the airways, leading to uncontrolled coughing. Due to inflammation, there is a narrowing of the breathing tubes in the lungs. This causes a high-pitched 'whoop' sound along with the coughing. It takes about 3-12 days for signs and symptoms to appear after the infection.

The first stage of infection is referred to as the catarrhal stage. This stage lasts for about 1 to 2 weeks. The symptoms in this stage are similar to common cold such as a nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, dry cough, low-grade fever, red and watery eyes, loss of appetite and general feeling of sickness.

The second stage is known as the paroxysmal stage. The duration of this phase may vary from person to person, from 1-6 weeks, upto 10 weeks. As the disease progresses, there are severe bursts (paroxysms) of coughing. Cough attacks are more frequent during the night. There may be approximately 15 cough attacks within a 24-hour period. Nasal discharge becomes thick, causing severe congestion in the upper respiratory tract. Coughing ends with a 'whoop' sound, when the person inhales. Severe coughing may also lead to vomiting. During these attacks, the person may turn blue (cyanotic) due to lack of oxygen. The exertion of coughing causes extreme fatigue.

The third stage of whooping cough is called as the convalescent stage. During this stage, there is gradual recovery and the symptoms of whooping cough start to reduce. This stage may last for a few weeks or months. The convalescent stage is marked by a chronic, but less paroxysmal cough. There are fewer outbursts of coughing. Cough usually disappears within 2-3 weeks.

In infants, especially younger than 6 months, whooping cough causes life-threatening complications like ear infections, pneumonia, dehydration, slowed or stopped breathing, seizures and brain damage. In children, whooping cough can lead to injuries in the chest wall muscles and hernia. Teens and adults generally recover from this infections without any complications. However, certain complications like bruised or broken rib or hernia may occur in teenagers and adults.

By following an appropriate vaccination program balanced with a healthy lifestyle and proper hygiene, you can prevent the irritating symptoms of whooping cough.