- Paroxysm fits (characterized by a series of rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound)
- Vomiting (during or after coughing fits)
- Exhaustion (after coughs)
Although your child may frequently be tired following coughing fits, they may appear to be in good health in between bouts of coughing. Coughing fits become much more common and severe as the disease worsens, and they can occur more frequently at night. Coughing can last for up to ten weeks or more.
It is important to note that babies do not always cough or whoop. Instead, infants may appear to be gasping for air, with a reddened face. They may even stop breathing (apnea) for several seconds during severe spells. Meanwhile, adults and teenagers may experience milder or distinct symptoms, such as a persistent cough or coughs without the whoop.
How To Diagnose Whooping Cough
To be able to diagnose the disease, the doctor may use a variety of diagnostic tools, including:
- Medical history (including asking about the symptoms)
- Physical examination
- Lab test with mucus sample from the back of the throat through the nose
- Blood test
- Chest X-ray
How To Treat Whooping Cough
In the early stages of whooping cough, doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. This can help to prevent a severe case of the disease and also stops the infection from spreading to other people. However, some babies may require hospitalization for observation or, in severe cases, in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Your child is likely to infect others if not treated in the first few weeks of the disease.
Treatment is unlikely to improve the condition if it takes place after three weeks of illness. At this point, even though the bacteria has been eliminated from the body, some symptoms may still persist. This is due to the fact that the bacteria have already caused harm to the body.
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