How infectious is whooping cough in children?
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How infectious is whooping cough?
It is very infectious. You will normally pass on the infection to most household members who are not immunised. Symptoms develop 7-14 days after being infected. Affected people should stay away from others until they have finished a 5 day course of antibiotics (see below). If you do not have antibiotics, you should stay away from others for at least 3 weeks after symptoms start.
What are the possible complications?
Most people fully recover, but some develop complications which include:
- Pneumonia (lung infection). Other bacteria can infect the lungs more easily if you have whooping cough. So, pneumonia caused by 'secondary' infections sometimes occurs. Pneumonia is suspected in a child if they become generally ill, have a high temperature, breathe fast, or have difficulty breathing between the bouts of coughing.
- Pressure effects of the severe coughing can, rarely, cause blood vessels to 'burst' and cause nosebleeds, coughing up blood, or skin bruises. The increase of pressure in the abdomen during bouts of coughing may cause a hernia.
- Rarely, brain damage occurs.
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