What are the symptoms and complications?
If you are exposed to whooping cough – and your immunity is low – you would typically develop symptoms within 5 to 10 days.
Whooping cough often begins like a cold.
In a typical case, your symptoms might include:
• a blocked or runny nose
• sneezing
• mild fever
• a cough
Complications of whooping cough are usually less serious in adults, especially if you have been vaccinated.
In one study, the most common complications reported were:
• weight loss in 1 out of 3 adults
• loss of bladder control in 1 out of 4 adults
• passing out in 3 out of 50 adults
• rib fracture from severe coughing in 1 out of 25 adults
Sources & Citations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/faqs.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/signs-symptoms.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/complications.html
SPANZ.ADAC.17.12.0287a date of preparation July 2018
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