Whooping Cough and Your Child

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an infection of the respiratory system, characterized by the "whooping" sound that is made when an infected child is breathing in.

Pertussis starts out as a irritating cough you can't get rid of and develops into coughing spells that can last for several minutes. Redness of face, gasping for breath while coughing and/or vomiting, are all signs that your child may have whooping cough. Though the sporadic coughing is painful, a child will usually feel fine in between the coughing fits. Because of this, many parents do not realize that their child has pertussis and needs to be seen by a physician.

Causes

A bacteria known by the name of Bordetella pertussis (called B pertussis) is the source of whooping cough. If left untreated, hospitalization may become necessary. Whooping cough can be a very serious illness and a physician's care is recommended.

Symptoms

The first signs of pertussis are a runny nose, sneezing, mild coughing, and a low grade fever, much like the common cold. After several weeks of these symptoms the cough will develop into severe coughing fits. Children with pertussis, under the age of 5, often have a higher chance of having pneumonia.

Is it Contagious?

Whooping cough is highly contagious. Your child can get whooping cough through the air (airborne molecules from the sick child's coughing, laughing, or sneezing) or through physical contact.

Pertussis is most contagious for up to two weeks after the cough begins, however antibiotics can shorten that period to 5 days after the first dose. It is recommended that anyone who has not been vaccinated for B pertussis and comes into close or regular contact with a person who has whooping cough, receive antibiotics to prevent the disease from spreading.

Treatment

A physician may check a child's mucus and test it for the pertussis bacteria, and send it out to a laboratory, to confirm diagnosis. An x-ray or blood test may also be necessary. If the test is positive, your child will be started on antibiotics until symptoms are gone. It can take anywhere from two weeks to two months for your child to return to normal after having pertussis depending on the severity of the condition.