Whooping cough: Polish words and practical help

You may hear kaszel for cough, gorączka for fever, duszność for shortness of breath, and szczepienie for vaccination. A coughing fit can be described as napad kaszlu. Whooping cough is an airway infection that can cause repeated, exhausting coughs; some people have a noisy breath in after a fit, while others do not. If English is not your preferred language, ask the clinic whether an interpreter can help you describe the symptoms accurately.

When contacting a clinician, say when the cough started, whether it occurs in attacks, whether vomiting follows, and whether anyone nearby has been diagnosed with whooping cough. Mention babies, pregnancy, or medically vulnerable people in the household. Bring or photograph vaccination records if available. A clinician can decide whether testing or antibiotic treatment should be considered and can explain how to reduce spread among close contacts.

Seek urgent help for duszność (difficulty breathing), przerwy w oddychaniu (breathing pauses), sine lub szare usta (blue or grey lips), omdlenie (fainting), or poor feeding in a baby. You can say “ma trudności z oddychaniem” for “is having trouble breathing.” These symptoms need urgent assessment even when communication is difficult or there is no fever.

Ask “Czy to może być krztusiec?” meaning “Could this be whooping cough?” Also ask whether a test is needed, whether close contacts need advice, and what signs mean you should seek emergency care.