Whooping Cough

This week I've noticed many people at work, school, and around the community coughing. This is a good time to speak about another common condition that can be dangerous to children. Whooping cough. Although it is more common in adults and in teens, babies are the ones that whooping cough is most dangerous to.

What Is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough, or Pertussis, is named for the sound that the person makes when they are trying to breathe in between coughing, not the sound of the cough itself. It is an infection of the lungs and the tubes used for breathing. This is spread through the air through coughing, sneezing, etc.

How Do I Know If My Child Has Whooping Cough?

The first symptoms are usually similar to a common cold; runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and a low grade fever. After a week or so the cough can turn into coughing spells, or a series of coughing,  that can last up to a minute. After the spell is over the child will then make the "whooping" sound the cough is named for. No all children will have the whooping sound with the cough. Infnats may look like they are gasping for air with a reddened face and may actually stop breathing for a few seconds. The sound associated with whooping cough  may be found at the following web address: http://www.whoopingcough.net/sound%20of%20whooping%20cough%20with%20much%20whooping.htm

What Can I Do?

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection so treatment with antibiotics is necessary. If you suspect your child may have whooping cough taking them to the doctor to be properly diagnosed and implementing a treatment plan as early as possible is the best thing to do. There is also a vaccination for whooping cough, called the DTAP vaccination. Although the vaccination is not "fool proof" it is usually given between 11 months and six years.