This is a bacterial disease which affects the respiratory system and can be very dangerous. Whooping cough starts with a cold, fever and cough. The cough changes to an unmistakable pattern of violent coughing bouts ending in a ‘whoop’ as your baby draws air back into her lungs. Some babies may turn blue and stop breathing instead of making the whooping noise. Vomiting sometimes follows the outs of coughing and can lead to dehydration. Complications can include ear infections, convulsions, pneumonia, hernias and sometimes brain damage. The infectious period starts 7 days after the child has been exposed to whooping cough and lasts for 3 weeks after the start of the symptoms. The child is most infectious during the initial stages when there is usually a rather irritating cough and before the onset of the typical whoop. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics to help reduce the severity of the illness.
Tags: Whooping Cough
