Signs and Symptoms of Whooping Cough

Does your child have a deep cough with high-pitched breaths? if so, it may not be an ordinary cough. Your child may have a contagious respiratory infection known as whooping cough. Our pediatrician can help your child feel better. Dr. Nicola Cherry at The Children’s Clinic of Klamath, in Klamath Falls, OR, provides a wide range of medical services for children, including diagnosis and treatment of whooping cough. 

What You Need To Know About Whooping Cough 

Whooping cough may start out like a cold, with common signs and symptoms, including: 

• A fever 
• A cough 
• A runny nose 
• Nasal congestion 
• Watery, red eyes 

As the infection builds, additional signs and symptoms may develop, including: 

• Mucus in your child’s airways 
• Fatigue, nausea, and vomiting 
• Facial redness 
• A whooping sound when your child breathes 

Keeping your child current on vaccinations can help prevent whooping cough. The DTP vaccine protects your child against: 

• Diphtheria 
• Tetanus 
• Pertussis (whooping cough) 

The DTP vaccine is 5 injections, given at 2, 4, 6, and 15 months, and then again at 4 to 6 years. A DTP booster injection is also recommended at age 11. 

If your child develops whooping cough, you need to: 

• Make sure your child rests and avoids contact with others 
• Have your child drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration 
• Have your child eat smaller meals to prevent nausea 
• Make sure your child avoids smoke or fumes, which may trigger coughing 
• Make sure you and your child wash your hands often to prevent bacterial spread 

Your pediatrician can help your child recover from whooping cough by prescribing antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection. 

Want To Know More? 

To find out more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of whooping cough and how your pediatrician can help, call Dr. Nicola Cherry at The Children’s Clinic of Klamath, in Klamath Falls, OR. You can reach her in the office by calling (541) 884-1224, so call today.