Pertussis: How to recognise whooping cough and identify the best treatment

By Cristiano Antonino Last updated Aug 12, 2022

Pertussis, also known as ‘whooping cough’ is due to an infection of the respiratory tract and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease, with a generally benign onset, mainly, though not exclusively, affecting the 0-5 year age group and striking mainly in the summer-autumn season.

With an incubation period of about 10 days, the disease usually lasts between 6 and 10 weeks.

Whooping cough (Pertussis) causes different symptoms according to its different stages:

Catarrhal stage: in the initial stage of the disease, usually the first two weeks, the symptoms that occur are similar to those of a cold:

reddening of the eyes;
lacrimation;
sore throat;
mild cough;
possible fever.

Paroxysmal stage: only in a second stage, lasting approximately 6 weeks, does the symptomatology become more specific:

paroxysmal, intense and uncontrollable cough;
breathing difficulties;
inspiratory scream (typical sound emitted to take in air)
expulsion of very thick, viscous phlegm;
possible gagging.

In very young children, the following may appear

absence of breathing
blue colouring;
choking.

Convalescence: after the paroxysmal phase, the convalescence phase begins, characterised by the alleviation of symptoms and improvement in general condition.

Diagnosis of pertussis

The signs and symptoms of whooping cough are such that it is often difficult to diagnose: in fact, these are non-specific symptoms, very similar, as anticipated, to those of other common respiratory diseases, such as colds, influenza or bronchitis.

It is the inspiratory scream, typical of the paroxysmal phase, that facilitates recognition.

Several investigations can be performed:

culture examination of the phlegm to search for the presence of pertussis bacteria
blood tests for specific antibodies, produced by the immune system following contact with the bacterium;
polymerase chain reaction (PCR): a sophisticated test, always performed on the patient’s secretions.

Less specific for diagnosis, on the other hand, are common blood tests and a chest X-ray, useful for detecting whether pertussis has possibly caused pneumonia.

How to treat whooping cough

To treat whooping cough, shorten the time of contagion and its duration, specialists resort to antibiotics, such as erythromycin.

To relieve symptoms, cough sedatives and anti-spasm drugs may also be prescribed.

If infants and children show severe symptoms, hospitalisation may be necessary.

In addition to antibiotics, medication and hospitalisation, where necessary, it is advisable to take a few precautions:

drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration due to frequent breathing;
eat small, frequent meals, to avoid vomiting after the cough;
cover your mouth, wash your hands often and wear a mask in the presence of other people to prevent contagion.