Whooping Cough Symptoms
Do you have any symptoms of Whooping Cough? Do you even know what they are? Learn more about each symptom of this condition below and what to do if you think you may have Whooping Cough.
Learn
- Overview
- What It Is
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Symptoms
- Prognosis
- Living With
- Complications
- User Questions
Take Action
- Screening
- Medications
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Alternative Treatment
- Care Guide
- Questions for Your Doctor
- When to Contact a Doctor
- Find a Doctor
- Resource Guide
Symptoms of Whooping Cough
Symptoms usually begin 1-2 weeks (at most, three weeks) after exposure to the bacterium. Initial symptoms last about 7-14 days. They include:
- Runny nose and congestion
- Sneezing
- Watery, red eyes
- Mild fever
- Dry cough, which marks the onset of the second stage:
- The cough becomes progressively worse over days to weeks (usually lasting 2-6 weeks).
- Prolonged coughing spells come on suddenly and frequently end with a forceful inhale or whoop.
- The whoop is not often heard in young infants. They may gasp for breath or gag.
- In severe cases, coughing may cause a person to have trouble breathing or turn blue from lack of oxygen.
- Vomiting as a result of coughing is common.
Complications may include:
- Seizure Disorder
- Periods of apnea (no breathing)-more common in infants
- Pneumonia
- Collapsed lungs (rare)
- Abdominal and Groin Hernia
- Bleeding, swelling, and/or inflammation of the brain, possibly causing neurologic damage
- Death (rare)-occurs more commonly in infants; mortality is 1%-2% before age one year.
The final stage is marked by slowly decreasing duration and severity of coughing spells. The average duration of illness is about six weeks, with a range or 3 weeks to 3 months. Fits of coughing may recur for months. In the majority of cases, patients fully recover.
Latest Articles
There are no articles are available for Whooping Cough.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor
implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A
MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment
or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright ©2013 EBSCO Publishing All rights
reserved. Source: EBSCO
