Serious coughs: Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

The following serious illnesses associated with coughing require immediate medical treatment.

This is one of the infectious childhood diseases for which immunisation is given, although protection is not absolute. The Anglo-Saxon word hwopan means ‘to threaten’. The terror on a child’s face as an attack is about to begin tells of the serious nature of this acute disease.

Identifying the cough

•  It usually starts with cold-like symptoms for up to a fortnight, followed by a violent coughing stage.
• Each paroxysm of short, sharp, painful coughs is followed by a long involuntary intake of breath, giving rise to the characteristic ‘whoop’, due to spasm of the larynx.
• Coughing can last for several weeks and then a gradual decline in severity, and frequency occurs.

Serious coughs: Bronchitis
 

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