Symptoms of Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Medical Name: Pertussis

What are the symptoms of the whooping cough?

Symptoms of whooping cough usually appear in 7-10 days of infection, but in some cases rare cases it may also take up to 21 days to occur. Once the symptoms start appearing, they remain for at least 2 weeks, and you must keep your child away from others as this disease is highly contagious and anyone could be easily caught. Child may even experience vomiting in some severe cases:

Once the symptoms of Pertussis have been started, there may be attacks of a choking cough, there may be 10-15 consecutive coughs before a breath is taken. This is followed by a sudden intake of air and a whooping sound as air is inhaled. Between these attacks of coughing the child appears perfectly well. These choking attacks vary according to seriousness of patient's condition. These attacks may be as little as twice a day or as many as fifty.

Some of the common symptoms of Whooping Cough are:

1) Runny Nose.
2) Sneezing.
3) Mild Cough.
4) Mild Fever - or no fever at all in early stages.
5) Sore Throat.
6) Tears.
7) Tiredness.
8) Loss of Appetite.
9) Night Cough.

Adults and adolescents either don't suffer from whooping cough, and if they are suffering then have very mild symptoms, such as a prolonged cough without the coughing spells or the whoop.