What should you know about dry whooping cough?

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, can begin like a mild cold and later develop into forceful coughing spells. The characteristic whoop may be absent in babies, vaccinated people and some adults. Coughing can cause vomiting, exhaustion, chest soreness or difficulty catching the breath. Fever may be mild or absent, so the sound and pattern of the cough matter as much as temperature.

A cough can have many causes, and a dry cough does not by itself establish whooping cough. A clinician may ask about contact with someone who has a persistent cough, vaccination history, age, pregnancy and symptoms between coughing bouts.

Arrange medical advice if the cough comes in repeated bouts, is worsening or disrupts sleep and feeding. Rest, take fluids in small amounts, avoid smoke and use a humidified environment if it feels soothing. Cover coughs, wash hands and avoid close contact with babies until a clinician advises on infectiousness. Do not start leftover antibiotics; an appropriate antibiotic treatment is selected after assessment and may help reduce spread when given at the right stage.

Get emergency help if breathing pauses, lips turn blue or grey, the person becomes difficult to wake, or a coughing spell causes severe breathing difficulty. Babies with poor feeding, repeated vomiting, unusual sleepiness or pauses in breathing need urgent assessment. Seek prompt review for dehydration, chest pain, coughing blood or a cough that is steadily intensifying.

Ask whether testing is needed, how long to avoid close contact, whether antibiotic treatment is appropriate, and whether childhood immunisation or booster advice applies to your household.