Whooping cough without a whoop

Pertussis can begin like an ordinary respiratory illness and later produce persistent bursts of coughing. The familiar sharp intake of breath after a coughing fit is only one possible feature. A baby may instead have pauses in breathing, poor feeding or little cough, while an adult may simply have an irritating cough that lingers.

Whooping Cough commonly presents with cough, but the absence of a whoop does not rule it out. Clinicians consider the full course of symptoms, close contact with someone who is ill, and the risk to people around you.

Write down the start of symptoms, coughing fits, vomiting, sleep disruption, fever and any known exposure. Contact a clinician if the cough is persistent or fits are intensifying. Mention any baby, pregnant person or medically vulnerable person in the household, as this can affect advice about testing, isolation and treatment.

Follow the instructions you are given about reducing close contact. Antibiotic Treatment may be considered in some situations; it should be prescribed for the individual circumstances rather than shared from another person.

Get urgent medical help for breathing difficulty, pauses in breathing, blue or grey skin around the lips, severe lethargy or poor feeding in an infant. Seek timely assessment for coughing fits that cause vomiting, signs of dehydration, or a Cough that is worsening rather than settling.

Could pertussis be considered even though there is no whoop? Is testing suitable? What steps reduce risk to a baby at home? Do close contacts need their vaccination status checked? When can normal activities resume?