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Originally Posted by LethalAudio
hmm, adults may have milder symptoms....bullsh*t...mine are wicked bad.
Thanks Exalta...I think that pretty much confirms it.
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Lethal ... here's a bit more info...some is a bit redundant of Exalta's.
First stage
The first stage lasts from several days to 2 weeks. During this period an infected person is most contagious. This stage begins with coldlike symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, mild coughing, watery eyes, and sometimes a mild fever. This phase is almost impossible to distinguish from a common cold.
Second stage
The second stage of whooping cough is the most serious stage and usually lasts from 2 to 4 weeks, but it can last longer.
During the second stage, the coldlike symptoms fade, but the cough worsens, changing from a dry, hacking cough to bursts of uncontrollable, often violent coughing. Rapid repeated coughs make it impossible for the child to take a breath during the coughing spell. When the child is finally able to breathe, he or she takes in a sudden gasp of air through airways narrowed by inflammation, sometimes causing a whooping noise.
A coughing spell may bring up thick mucus and cause vomiting. The number and severity of coughing spells increases over the first seven days of the second stage. At its worst, more than one coughing spell per hour is not uncommon. The number and severity of coughing spells levels off and then eventually lessens as the second stage ends.
Third stage
The final stage of whooping cough is the convalescence stage. Although the child is getting better, the cough may become louder (and sound worse) as he or she regains strength. Coughing spells may continue on and off for weeks to months. Coughs may flare up again during a later cold or other upper respiratory illness, but that does not mean the child has whooping cough again.
Complications can develop from whooping cough, including lung infection (pneumonia), ear infections, seizures, weight loss, dehydration, or other physical complications associated with severe coughing such as a hernia. When these complications are severe, they may require additional treatment or hospitalization.
Home Treatment
If your child has whooping cough, the coughing spells can be frightening. However, stay calm; the child usually recovers from the coughing spell. Some steps you can take include the following:
*Create a quiet, calm, restful environment to help reduce the number of coughing spells.
*Avoid smoke, dust, sudden noises or lights, changes in temperature, and other unnecessary stimulation that may trigger coughing spells.
*Give your child frequent, small sips of fluids and make sure he or she gets enough to eat since coughing requires enormous energy.
*If humidity helps ease coughing spells, use a cool mist humidifier in your child's room. If humidity worsens coughing spells, avoid it. Dry, hot, or polluted air may worsen coughing spells.
*People who have whooping cough should wash their hands frequently and avoid other people who are ill to help prevent the spread of infection. People caring for someone with whooping cough also should wash their hands frequently.
Keep children away from people who have a severe cough, especially if there is the possibility it could be whooping cough.
Immunizations are critical to preventing diseases such as whooping cough from becoming widespread (epidemic) problems. For more information, see the topic Immunizations in Related Information.
Anyone know anything about Whooping Cough
You better get yourself treated immediately though...those statistics are somewhat unnerving.
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