Whooping Cough Symptoms
Symptoms of whooping cough may occur in three stages, especially in young children. Adults and older children may not follow this pattern of symptoms.
In stage 1, symptoms are like those of a cold:
- You sneeze and have a runny nose, a mild cough, watery eyes, and sometimes a mild fever.
- The symptoms last from several days to 2 weeks.
- This is when you are most likely to spread the disease.
In stage 2, the cold symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse.
- The cough goes from a mild, dry, hacking cough to a severe cough that you can't control.
- You may cough so long and hard that you can't breathe. When you can take a breath of air, it may make a whooping noise.
- After a coughing fit, you may vomit and feel very tired.
- Between coughing fits, you feel normal.
- Symptoms are most severe in this stage. They usually last 2 to 4 weeks or longer.
In stage 3, you still have symptoms, but you feel better and grow stronger.
- The cough may get louder.
- Coughing fits may happen off and on for weeks.
- Coughing fits may flare up if you get a cold or have a similar illness.
- This stage may last longer if you have never had the vaccine.
Adults and older children usually have milder symptoms than young children. How bad your symptoms are also depends on whether you've had the vaccine and how long ago it was.
Symptoms of whooping cough usually last 6 to 10 weeks, but they may last longer.
SOURCE:
healthwise. Whooping Cough (Pertussis).
