Whooping Cough
What is Whooping Cough ?
Whooping cough is an illness that can spread easily. It’s also called pertussis. An infection with bacteria causes it. Many people with the illness get a serious hacking cough. Breathing in after coughing often causes a high-pitched noise that sounds like a “whoop.”
Before the vaccine for pertussis came out, whooping cough was thought of as a childhood disease. Today, whooping cough mainly affects children too young to have gotten all their shots of the vaccine. The illness also tends to affect teenagers and adults whose protection from the vaccine has faded. Deaths linked with whooping cough are rare. Most often, they occur in infants. But pregnant people can help protect their babies by getting a booster shot of the vaccine during pregnancy. Vaccination also is recommended for other people who will have close contact with an infant.
Symptoms
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Fever
- Cough
- Vomiting
- A red or blue face
- Extreme tiredness
- A "whoop" sound during the next breath of air
- Gag or struggle to breathe
- Have skin, lips or nails that turn blue or purple
Cause
A type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-filled droplets spray into the air. Anyone who happens to be nearby can breathe in the droplets. The bacteria that cause whooping cough also can spread when people are together for a long time. Or these germs can spread when people share breathing space, such as while holding a newborn on your chest.
Risk Factors
The whooping cough vaccine you receive as a child wears off over time. This leaves many teenagers and adults prone to the infection during an outbreak. And regular outbreaks still happen. Certain infants are most at risk for serious health problems and death from whooping cough. These include babies younger than 12 months old who are not vaccinated or haven’t received all their vaccine doses.
When to see a Doctor
Call your healthcare professional if ongoing coughing spells cause you or your child to vomit. Turn red, purple or blue. Breathe in with a whooping sound. Not drink enough fluid. Call your local emergency number right away if you or your child seems to struggle to breathe. Also call for emergency care if you notice pauses in breathing.