Whooping Cough vs Cold: How to Tell the Difference
Learn the symptoms, warning signs and when to seek care
Learn the symptoms, warning signs and when to seek care
Key Takeaways
- Whooping cough often starts with symptoms similar to a cold.
- Severe coughing fits may develop after one to two weeks.
- Babies may have breathing problems without coughing.
- Vaccination and early treatment help protect against pertussis.
Whooping cough can be hard to tell from a common cold at first. Both can start with a runny or stuffy nose and a mild cough. After a week or two, however, the difference may become easier to spot.
Cold symptoms usually start to improve, while whooping cough, also called pertussis, can get worse. This highly contagious infection may cause repeated, severe coughing fits that can last for weeks.
“It may be hard to tell the difference at first but it’s vital to get medical help if you think it could be something like whooping cough,” says Mark Shalauta, MD, a family medicine physician at Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo.
Whooping cough vs. Cold: What’s the difference?
Cold symptoms typically peak within two to three days and then gradually improve. Most colds improve within seven to 10 days, although some symptoms may linger.
With whooping cough, coughing often becomes more severe after one to two weeks. Repeated coughing fits may cause vomiting or exhaustion and can continue for several weeks.
If you suspect whooping cough, contact your doctor promptly, especially if you or someone in your household is around infants or other people at higher risk of serious illness. Early diagnosis and treatment can help reduce the spread of infection.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
Whooping cough often begins with symptoms that resemble a cold, such as:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Mild, occasional cough
- Low-grade fever
After a week or two, the cough may become more severe. Symptoms may include:
- Repeated, uncontrollable coughing fits
- A “whooping” sound when breathing in after a coughing fit
- Vomiting or gagging during or after coughing
- Exhaustion after coughing fits
Despite its name, whooping cough does not always cause the distinctive “whoop.” Symptoms can vary by age and vaccination history. Babies may have pauses in breathing, known as apnea, or difficulty breathing. Some may not cough at all. They may turn blue if they are not getting enough oxygen.
“If your child is having trouble breathing or has a blue color to his or her skin, call 911 immediately,” Dr. Shalauta says.
Older children may develop a persistent cough that lasts for weeks or even months. Teens and adults who have been vaccinated often have milder symptoms and may not have the characteristic “whoop.”
How is whooping cough diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and possible exposure to whooping cough.
If pertussis is suspected, your doctor may collect a sample from inside your nose for laboratory testing. Tests such as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, and bacterial culture can help diagnose whooping cough.
How is whooping cough treated?
Pertussis is usually treated with antibiotics. Treatment works best when started early, ideally before severe coughing fits begin. Early treatment may help make the illness less severe and reduce the chance of spreading the infection to others.
If treatment starts later, antibiotics may not shorten how long the cough lasts, but your doctor may still recommend them in some cases.
Most people with whooping cough can recover at home. To help manage symptoms, your doctor may recommend:
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Getting adequate rest
- Using a clean, cool-mist humidifier to help soothe coughing
- Avoiding smoke, dust and other things that may trigger coughing
Ask your doctor before using over-the-counter cough medicine. These medicines may not help with pertussis and may not be safe for young children.
Babies and people with severe symptoms or complications may need hospital care for closer monitoring and treatment.
What should you do after exposure to whooping cough?
If you've been in close contact with someone who has whooping cough, contact your doctor. In some cases, they may recommend antibiotics to help prevent you from getting sick. This is known as post-exposure prophylaxis.
Preventive antibiotics may be recommended for people who live with someone who has pertussis, people at higher risk of severe illness and those who have close contact with someone at high risk.
What causes whooping cough?
Whooping cough is a respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads easily through coughs and sneezes, often before someone realizes they are infected because the early symptoms can look like a common cold.
Severe cases can lead to complications such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and, rarely, death.
How can you prevent whooping cough?
Vaccination is the best way to protect against whooping cough.
Children younger than 7 receive the DTaP vaccine as part of their routine childhood vaccination schedule. Older children, adolescents and adults receive Tdap as recommended.
Pregnant women should receive a Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy between 27 and 36 weeks, preferably during the earlier part of that period. The antibodies produced after vaccination can pass to the baby before birth and help protect them during the first months of life.
Family members and others who care for newborns should also make sure they are up to date on recommended vaccinations.
You can also help reduce the spread of whooping cough by covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands regularly and avoiding close contact with others when you are sick.