What should you know about 100 day whooping cough?

The name describes how drawn-out recovery can feel; it does not predict an exact cough duration for each person.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, often begins with cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, mild fever, and an ordinary cough. The cough may later come in repeated, forceful bouts. A person may gasp or make a whooping sound afterward, vomit after coughing, or feel exhausted. Not everyone makes the classic whoop, particularly adults and vaccinated people.

Babies can present differently: pauses in breathing, feeding difficulty, or colour change may be more noticeable than coughing. The cough may linger after the infection itself is improving because irritated airways take time to settle.

Contact a clinician promptly if coughing fits suggest pertussis or if there has been close contact with someone diagnosed with it. Tell the clinic before arriving so staff can reduce exposure to other patients. Assessment may include the symptom pattern, exposure history, vaccination history, and a nose or throat sample.

A prescribed antibiotic works most effectively when started early and can help limit transmission. It may not stop an established cough straight away, so complete the prescribed course and follow the clinician's advice about staying away from work, school, nursery, and vulnerable contacts. Do not share antibiotics or use leftover medicine.

Rest, take frequent fluids, and try smaller meals if coughing triggers vomiting. Keep away from babies and pregnant people while infectious, cover coughs, wash hands, and avoid smoke or strong scents that provoke another bout. Check that household vaccinations are up to date with a healthcare professional.

Seek urgent medical assessment for a baby with suspected whooping cough, or for anyone whose coughing is severe, worsening, causing repeated vomiting, preventing fluids, or accompanied by chest pain or marked exhaustion. Prompt review is also sensible after close exposure when the household includes a baby, a pregnant person, or someone with a weakened immune system.

Call emergency services for difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, blue or grey lips or skin, a seizure, collapse, or unusual difficulty waking. These warning signs drive the urgency regardless of whether a whooping sound is present.

Ask whether testing is still useful at this stage, whether treatment should begin before results return, and how long you should avoid close contact with others. Also ask whether household members need preventive treatment or a vaccination review, especially if a baby or pregnant person may have been exposed.