Asthma and whooping cough

The infection, also called pertussis, can begin like a cold before repeated forceful coughs develop. A whoop may occur when breathing in after a bout, but its absence does not rule out the infection.

An airway infection can make asthma symptoms harder to control. Coughing bouts may be followed by breathlessness, wheeze, vomiting, exhaustion, or difficulty sleeping, while asthma may add chest tightness and narrowing of the lower airways.

A clinician may assess the cough pattern, possible contact with an infected person, vaccination history, breathing symptoms, and the stage of illness. Testing or antibiotic treatment may be considered according to the clinical situation.

Contact a clinician promptly if whooping cough is suspected, particularly after close contact with a diagnosed case or when the cough comes in intense bouts. Follow your asthma action plan and continue prescribed controller medicine; use a reliever only as directed.

Reduce spread by following the clinician's advice about staying away from others, covering coughs, washing hands, and completing any prescribed antibiotic course. Keep smoke, incense, and strong fragrances away from irritated airways. Check that household immunisations are up to date through the appropriate health service.

Call emergency services if the person is struggling to breathe, has pauses in breathing, develops blue or grey lips, becomes confused or unusually drowsy, collapses, or cannot recover between coughing bouts. Urgent assessment is also needed when asthma symptoms worsen and the prescribed reliever is not helping as the action plan says it should.

Discuss whether the cough needs testing, whether antibiotics are appropriate, how to limit contact with vulnerable people, and how illness changes your asthma plan. Ask for a demonstration of inhaler technique if coughing makes medicine delivery difficult.