What is the difference between whooping cough and other coughs?

The symptoms of whooping cough are becoming more and more common in life. It is one of the more stubborn diseases caused by decreased human resistance, because the symptoms of whooping cough are very obvious, that is, long-term coughing, which leads to decreased physical fitness, changes in quality of life, etc. What are the differences between whooping cough and other coughs? Let's take a look at the explanation below, I hope you can understand it.

The typical course of the disease is 6 to 8 weeks.

1. The clinical course can be divided into 3 stages:

(1) Catarrhal stage

It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks from the onset of the disease to the onset of spasmodic cough. The initial symptoms are similar to those of a cold. In addition to coughing, there may be runny nose, sneezing, low fever, or just a dry cough. When other symptoms gradually disappear, the cough becomes worse, becoming lighter during the day and heavier at night, gradually turning into a spasmodic cough.

It usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks or longer (from a few days to more than 2 months). Paroxysmal and spasmodic cough is the characteristic of this period. During an attack, coughing occurs in clusters, with more than ten or dozens of coughs, until phlegm is coughed up or the stomach contents are vomited out, followed by a deep and long inhalation, making a rooster-like inhalation roar. When the cough is severe, there may be incontinence of stool and urine, the hands will be clenched into fists with elbows bent, eyes will be wide open, face will be flushed, tears and snot will flow, head will be tilted forward, mouth will be open and tongue will be stuck out, lips will be cyanotic, etc., and the expression will be extremely painful. In mild cases, it happens several times a day, and in severe cases, it happens dozens of times a day, mostly at night. It can be triggered by running, eating, catching a cold, smoking, crying, etc. There are usually no obvious signs before an attack.

(3) The recovery period is generally 1 to 2 weeks. The frequency and severity of coughing attacks decrease, and paroxysmal coughing no longer occurs. However, if you encounter irritants such as thick smoke, or have a respiratory tract infection, paroxysmal coughing may occur repeatedly.

Newborns and young infants often do not have typical spasmodic coughs. They often experience breath-holding and cyanosis after coughing a few times, which can easily lead to suffocation and convulsions. The breathing action can stop during the exhalation phase, with the heart rate first speeding up, then slowing down, and even stopping. If artificial respiration, oxygen administration and other active rescue measures are not performed in time, the person may suffocate and die.

3. Whooping cough in adults

In recent years, there has been an increasing trend of whooping cough among adolescents and adults. A group of adults with pertussis confirmed by bacterial culture, with an average age of 35 years, have typical symptoms and vomiting after coughing, but may also have only a dry cough for several weeks, and rarely have complications. Most patients can still continue to work. Although they do not suffer much pain, they can serve as a source of infection, especially threatening children, and should be taken seriously.