What are the symptoms and complications of whooping cough?

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