Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a relatively common and highly contagious infection of the upper respiratory system.
There are two separate stages of the disease, the first of which is the least symptomatic and the most contagious, the second of which is mostly a side-effect of the recovery process. In the first stage, symptoms will be like that of a moderate to severe cold, including histamine reaction (sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose), mild fever and possible chest congestion. Discharge produced by coughing will typically be yellow or light green in color if present, as is common in cases of bacterial infection of the upper respiratories. Sore throat will often be conspicuously absent, save that which may be caused by the cough.
By the onset of the second stage of the disease, the worst of the infection itself is over. However, this is the point at which the symptoms will tend to escalate in their discomfort. Namely one will notice an extreme, dry cough, as was described previously, one sometimes so profound that it can produce a startling shortness of breath. Infants with pertussis can sometimes begin coughing in a way that startles or scares a parent, but most of the discomfort is a result of the repeated coughing. Even if the child seems to be straining, this is probably normal. Consult your pediatrician regardless of this if you think your child may show symptoms of whooping cough.
Preliminary diagnosis consists of symptom evaluation, most notably looking for the presence of the telltale uncontrollable dry hack. Infants may have a pale or bluish complexion, which is the result of mild oxygen deprivation sometimes associated with intense coughing. Sample cultures are an option, but tend to take some time; diagnosis beyond symptoms is usually made on the basis of immunization (which is only relevant for children, as the effectiveness of the vaccine lessens with years) or upon the presence of any current outbreaks of the disease in the community.
Treatment for adults and children consists of antibiotic treatment to stem the infection, repeated as necessary. Symptom treatments are usually included, including a cough suppressant, for adults likely one with codeine to limit the scope of the damage done by the cough to the trachea and speed recovery. Note that such medicines tend to make one very sleepy, and driving under the influence of these drugs can be very dangerous. Because pertussis is treatable and highly contagious, it is important that anyone with symptoms of the condition be evaluated by a doctor before it is passed on to others.
