COUGH - Symptoms of whooping cough

The symptoms of whooping cough develop 

about a week to 10 days after infection

In its first stage the disease starts off like a cold with a slight cough, runny nose and a mild fever. After a week or two more serious symptoms will develop including:

• More severe coughing, sometimes with lots of mucus. Coughing may result in choking or vomiting.
• Children with the disease may sometimes turn blue or red after a coughing fit and experience apnoea - when they stop breathing temporarily.

In its third stage, the convalescent period, coughing starts to subside. But it can take up to three months to regain normal health after the infection.

To diagnose whooping cough a doctor my undertake a number of tests such as taking a swab from the back of the nose or blood tests to confirm the disease. Tests are not always reliable and may take weeks to become positive.

Antibiotics are usually prescribed during the early stages of whooping cough to ease the symptoms of the disease. This also makes the person less infectious to others. Antibiotics may also be prescribed to people who have been in direct contact with the infected person such as household members, even if they have been immunised.

Source: http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/