Whooping Cough Symptoms

The number of incidence of whooping cough, also called pertussis, in California has forced the California Department of Public Health to declare a state epidemic. As of June 15, California had 910 recorded cases of the highly contagious disease, and five babies — all under 3 months of age — have died from the disease this year.

Mayo Clinic posted the whooping cough symptoms. Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes three to 12 days for signs and symptoms to appear. They’re usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:

* Runny nose
* Nasal congestion
* Sneezing
* Red, watery eyes
* A mild fever
* Dry cough

After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:

* Bring up thick phlegm
* Provoke vomiting
* Result in a red or blue face
* Cause extreme fatigue
* End with a high-pitched “whoop” sound during the next breath of air

However, many people — particularly infants, adolescents and adults — don’t develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough.

When to see a doctor? Call your doctor if prolonged coughing spells cause you or your child to:

* Vomit
* Turn red or blue
* Inhale with a whooping sound