What are the symptoms and signs of whooping cough?
The disease lasts about six weeks, and consists of three stages. The incubation period lasts an average of seven to 14 days. The three stages of the disease are: • Catarrhal stage: This stage begins insidiously, starting with sneezing, tearing of the eyes, running nose and cold-like symptoms. The signs are similar to that of the common cold, including nasal congestion, runny nose, red and watery eyes and dry cough. Also present are loss of appetite, listlessness and a hacking nocturnal cough, which becomes gradually more evident during the day. There is rarely a fever at this stage, and it is the most contagious stage. • Paroxysmal stage: The cough becomes paroxysmal after about 10 14 days. It becomes a rapid wet cough, bringing up thick and stringy mucus, and more evident at night. It is manifested by 5 to 15 rapidly consecutive coughs, followed by the characteristic whoop and a hurried deep inspiration. A few normal breaths generally follow, and then another paroxysm. A child may bec
