Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is not one of the baby conditions a mother likes to be told by her doctor that her baby is suffering from. Although every other baby illness or type of sickness that brings baby down with a fever, covers him/her in a rash, or has them vomit their little guts up, - whooping cough is a type different with a throat ripping cough. It is known medically and often referred to as pertussis…a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It’s a condition with similar symptoms to the common cold we are used to, however it can be much more serious if a young baby is suffering from it.

In the more advanced stage of whooping cough it is recognized by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like a "whoop.” The incidence of this condition has been rising, chiefly among kiddies too young to complete a full course of vaccinations and teenagers whose immunity has faded.
If the proper treatment is prescribed, or medication administered, teens and adults recover from whooping cough without problems. As with all conditions there is the mild and the severe sorts. The severe sort can usually be prevented with early treatment.

Whoever the person and regardless of gender with the bacterium that causes whooping cough may see it taking up to 12 days for symptoms to show.

Symptoms normally include:

• A runny nose 
  
• Nasal blockage 
  
• Sneezing 
  
• Red, watery eyes 
  
• Mild fever 
  
• Dry cough 
  
• Nausea and loss of appetite

Over time and if the illness reaches another level the symptoms worsen. From this you can expect:

• Severe coughing bouts bringing thick phlegm 
  
• Continual coughing maybe up to fifteen at a time 
  
• In kiddies, their bouts of severe coughing can cause them to vomit and their face turn red, or even blue at times
  
• Tiredness from the strenuous coughing
  
  Symptoms of whooping cough in adults are much the same as to them of bronchitis, a respiratory infection that causes an irritating severe cough causing small red spots which has ruptured blood vessels at the skin's surface (petechiae) in the upper body, as well as small places of bleeding in the whites of the eyes.

This happens duly because of pressure and strain from coughing.
It’s known for people to do them self an injury from the strain of constant coughing (Like breaking or bruising a rib.)

Patients typically suffer most at night when the cough is normally at its worst.

If your child shows whooping cough symptoms then have your GP check the child out to determine the condition, to make an accurate diagnosis that it is whooping cough.  There are several diseases associated to young babies such as chicken pox measles mumps and meningitis, which all give reason for concern.  And it wouldn’t be normal for any mother not to worry; however all the help is out there you need to keep your baby’s health in tip top condition.

With babies never leave anything to chance. No matter how little your worry is over their health, and for whatever reason, do right by your child and have your baby examined by a doctor sooner than later.  The quicker a condition is cured, the quicker you get back your healthy little son or daughter.