How To Treat Whooping Cough
Pertussis, which is better known as whooping cough, is a respiratory infection caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. This illness is highly contagious and usually affects infants and both teenagers and adults whose vaccination immunity has faded. While it is characterized by an intense cough ending with a high-pitch 'whoop' sound, some individuals may have contracted the infection and only experience a severe hacking cough instead. While death by whooping cough is rare, it is the most common in infants who have yet to complete the full vaccination. The beginning stages of the illness resemble that of a common cold, but after about a week or so, you may encounter difficulty breathing, vomiting or hacking up mucus, extreme fatigue, and a red or blue discoloration in the face. Being infected with whooping cough can be very tiresome, here is what to do if you or a loved one contracts it.