Whooping cough was once considered a standard and dangerous childhood disease, but widespread use of its vaccine starting within the Nineteen Forties helped to almost completely eliminate it.
Nevertheless, cases of whooping cough have been on the rise in recent times. We don’t know the precise reason why, but research has shown the bacteria that causes whooping cough has modified, causing past vaccination protections to wane – which is why it’s so vital to remain up-to-date along with your vaccinations.
Below, we’ll go over what whooping cough is, what causes it and how it’s transmitted. We’ll also cover treatment options and how to guard yourself from getting it.
What’s whooping cough and how serious is it?
Whooping cough (also referred to as pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial infection in your upper respiratory tract, namely your lungs and airways. It may possibly produce quite a lot of symptoms, most notably a severe cough that feels like a “whoop.” And for some, it may possibly be a potentially life-threatening infection.
Whooping cough is brought on by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. People of any age can get whooping cough, but babies under 1 yr old and individuals who have a chronic respiratory illness, like asthma, are at biggest risk of more severe symptoms.
How whooping cough spreads
Whooping cough affects your respiratory tract, so it’s easily spread from individual to individual through infected drops of saliva. This may occur by:
- Coughing or sneezing
- Sharing respiratory space with someone, like when holding a baby in your chest
- Touching infected surfaces, then touching your nose or mouth
While the pertussis bacteria can live for 3-5 days on a surface or an object, it’s unlikely to spread that way. As a precaution, if you happen to think you’ve been exposed to whooping cough or you have got whooping cough, thoroughly disinfect anything you could have are available contact with whilst you were contagious.
Serious whooping cough complications in infants and children
Infants and children who aren’t vaccinated against whooping cough or haven’t received the total schedule of vaccinations are most susceptible, and they’re more more likely to develop serious complications – a few of which will be life-threatening. Complications can include:
- Bacterial pneumonia, which is probably the most common complication and probably the most common reason for death in infants
- Apnea, that are dangerous pauses in respiratory
- Cyanosis, which is a bluish discoloration of the skin attributable to inadequate oxygen intake
- Seizures from violent coughing suits (more common in infants)
- Encephalopathy, which is a decrease in blood flow or oxygen to the brain
Complications of whooping cough in adults
Complications for teens and adults are often less severe than with infants and children, especially for individuals who’ve been vaccinated, but they’ll still occur. Complications in adults can include:
- Vomiting during or after a coughing fit
- Difficulty respiratory
- Bruised or cracked ribs from prolonged coughing
- Weight reduction
- Urinary incontinence
- Fainting or passing out
- Ear infections
- Dehydration
- Hernia
- Nosebleed
- Anorexia
More serious but rare complications can include:
- Encephalopathy, attributable to coughing suits
- Lung collapse
- Brain bleed
- Seizure
- Rectal prolapse
Whooping cough stages and symptoms to search for
When a pertussis infection begins, chances are you’ll initially mistake it for the common cold. Symptoms of whooping cough can take up to a few weeks to develop, but they mostly begin 5-10 days after you are available contact with the bacteria. If you happen to do have it, you’re considered highly contagious for 2-3 weeks after you begin coughing.
Stage 1 of whooping cough: Cold-like symptoms
Early symptoms of whooping cough can present like mild cold symptoms, so unless you understand for certain you’ve been in touch with someone who has it, your doctor likely won’t test you. Early symptoms often last for 1-2 weeks and can include:
- Stuffed up or runny nose
- Low-grade fever (lower than 100.4°F/38°C)
- Occasional mild cough (though this symptom doesn’t occur in babies)
Stage 2 of whooping cough: An uncontrollable cough that will have a whooping sound
After 1-2 weeks of the early symptoms, chances are you’ll start having uncontrollable, rapid and violent coughing suits, referred to as paroxysms. It’s possible you’ll also make a high-pitched whoop sound once you inhale after a coughing fit. These sudden attacks of coughing might also cause gagging and vomiting.
These suits often last for 1-6 weeks, but they’ll proceed for as much as 10 weeks. Coughing suits can turn out to be more common and worsen so long as your illness continues.
Stage 3 of whooping cough: Recovery
Since stage two of whooping cough can proceed for as much as 10 weeks, recovery from whooping cough will be very slow. On this stage, it’s likely that you just’ll have fewer coughing suits, but they’ll still occur, and your cough will turn out to be milder and less common as you heal.
During this stage and for just a few months after, it’s vital to avoid exposure to other respiratory infections (as best you may) since you’re more prone to them – even the common cold could cause your coughing suits to return.
How whooping cough is diagnosed
Unless you understand you’ve been exposed to whooping cough, your doctor likely won’t think to check you until you have got the symptoms of stage 2. If you happen to think you or your child has whooping cough, it’s vital to get tested as soon as possible. As it’s so highly contagious, don’t go to a clinic without advanced warning – allow them to know you’re coming to provide them time to arrange.
Whooping cough is usually diagnosed with a blood sample or a swab from the back of your throat. Your doctor may even likely ask about your signs, symptoms and exposure to whooping cough before providing you with an official diagnosis.
Whooping cough vs. croup
Croup is an illness that typically affects young children, and it causes swelling of the airways and trouble respiratory. While croup and whooping cough each affect respiratory, they’re two very different infections:
- While whooping cough is brought on by bacteria, croup is frequently brought on by a virus
- The cough brought on by croup is more of a barking sound, while the cough with whooping cough is more of a whoop
- Croup often lasts just just a few days, but whooping cough can last for just a few months
- Croup doesn’t often have complications, and whooping cough can often cause severe complications
Whooping cough treatments for youngsters and adults
Since whooping cough is a bacterial infection, doctors often prescribe an antibiotic. It’s vital to start out treatment as soon as possible to avoid more serious symptoms and complications, and to guard those around you from whooping cough.
It’s also vital to start out on an antibiotic straight away because treatment after you’ve been sick for several weeks is unlikely to assist. At that time, your body could have gotten rid of the bacteria that caused whooping cough, but you’ll likely still be experiencing symptoms.
You’re still contagious for as much as five days after starting an antibiotic, so take precautions to not spread it to others until the antibiotic starts to work.
Manage whooping cough symptoms at home
Starting an antibiotic is a very good first step to feeling higher, and it’s best to make certain you’re taking your full course of antibiotics, exactly as prescribed by your doctor. As for managing the symptoms, there are at-home remedies you may try for relief. Contact your doctor about approved remedies, which can include:
- Using a cool-mist humidifier to assist soothe your cough
- Keeping your private home freed from irritants that may trigger your cough, like smoke and dust
- Getting loads of liquids to avoid dehydration
Unless your doctor recommends it, don’t take cough medicine – it’s not more likely to help a cough brought on by pertussis.
There are two vaccinations that include the pertussis vaccine, the DTaP and Tdap vaccines, each of which protect against pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus. The vaccine you receive depends in your age and vaccination history.
It’s vital to get vaccinated if you happen to’re able, and to make certain your child follows the really helpful vaccination schedule for whooping cough. While you may still get whooping cough even if you happen to’ve been vaccinated, it’s likely your symptoms will likely be mild and you won’t experience complications.
If you happen to think you or your child has been exposed to whooping cough, or if you happen to’re unsure of your pertussis vaccination status, HealthPartners primary care doctors may help diagnose and treat whooping cough. And in case your child isn’t up up to now with their vaccines, make an appointment to get them back on target.