What does whooping cough sound like?

The characteristic whoop can happen when someone takes a sharp breath after forceful coughing. Some people instead have repetitive dry coughs, gagging or vomiting after a fit. Babies may not cough strongly enough to whoop and can have pauses or difficulty with breathing. Other respiratory illnesses can also sound harsh or cause coughing fits, so the sound alone cannot confirm whooping cough. A clinician considers the full symptom pattern, exposures and any testing that may be useful.

Note when the cough started, whether fits are getting closer together, and whether there is vomiting, fever or trouble sleeping. If safe, a brief recording of the sound can help a clinician understand what you hear, but do not delay care to make one. Keep the person upright and calm during a coughing episode, offer fluids after the fit has settled, and avoid smoke, perfume and other airway irritants. Reduce close contact with others while a possible contagious illness is being assessed.

Seek urgent medical care for pauses in breathing, struggling to breathe, blue or grey lips or face, a weak response, collapse, or inability to feed or drink. Prompt assessment is also important for infants with a new cough, as their symptoms can change quickly. Contact a clinician for coughs that cause repeated vomiting, exhaustion, fever, or increasing fits, even when the sound does not seem dramatic.

Ask whether the recorded sound and symptom history suggest testing, how to ease cough-related vomiting, and whether people in the home need advice about exposure. Ask which warning signs are most relevant for the age and health needs of the person who is unwell.