Adults Can Contract Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Recognizing the Symptoms

When you're feeling like a hot, wet dishrag and hit with a relentless cough, you might think it's just the common cold. But feeling like death warmed over could lead you to suspect something more sinister like the flu, COVID-19, or RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). What you probably won't think of on your own? Whooping cough, or pertussis. A respiratory infection that's particularly prevalent among infants, it's also not uncommon among adults. And with recent stats showing a drastic increase in cases, it's worth knowing the signs. According to Dr. Mark Loafman, a family medicine physician specializing in infectious disease, whooping cough is marked by coughing fits so brutal they'll rob you of breath. The distinctive "whoop" is the high-pitched groan you let out while gasping for air between hacking fits (though it's worth noting not everyone with the condition makes this sound).

Part of the reason whooping cough isn't on everyone's radar is because cases plummeted since a vaccine was introduced in the 1940s and included in the childhood vaccination regimen. But even if you were vaccinated as a kid, your immunity might have faded, and pertussis boosters aren't officially recommended for adults. So, as you age, you might become more vulnerable during an outbreak. The reasons for the recent spike aren't entirely clear, but experts suspect pertussis might be experiencing a post-pandemic rebound, much like other infectious diseases. The drop in childhood vaccinations has also been linked to an increase in risk.

While the current count is still relatively low, experts believe there are countless unreported cases, especially among people who can't or choose not to seek medical care. To learn the key signs of whooping cough in adults, treatment options, and preventative measures, read on.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough in adults?

In the early stages of whooping cough in adults, you'll experience cold-like symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, low-grade fever, and a mild cough. After a week or so, your cough will worsen and be followed by frequent and intense fits that could leave you panting for breath, producing a lot of mucus, feeling dizzy or passing out, having trouble sleeping, vomiting, and extreme tiredness. The cough is characteristically spasmodic and can persist for several weeks, even after the bacteria has been cleared from your system.

How is whooping cough diagnosed?

Given that early symptoms can resemble a cold or influenza, and a cold is still way more common, your doctor may not run a test for pertussis if you've only been coughing for a few days. However, if your symptoms last more than a week and are particularly severe, your doctor may suspect pertussis and order a lab test to confirm. The test typically involves collecting fluid from the back of your nose via a long swab or aspiration (where your doctor will pump saline solution into your nose and then suction it out). A bacterial culture test will scan the sample for the presence of B. pertussis, while a PCR test will look for the microbe's genetic material.

What is the treatment for whooping cough?

As soon as you're diagnosed, your doc will likely prescribe an antibiotic called azithromycin (or a Z-pack) to eliminate the B. pertussis bacteria. Taking the medication within the five-day course should help you recover, though the cough can linger for several weeks. Side effects of the antibiotic may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain.

If you've had whooping cough for three or more weeks at the time of diagnosis, your doctor may not prescribe an antibiotic since the bacteria is likely no longer present in your system. In this case, rest, hydration, and managing stress are the best treatments.

How can I avoid whooping cough?

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent whooping cough. If you received the usual series as a child, get a Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster every ten years. If you didn't receive the series recommended for infants, get the Tdap shot, which includes protection against pertussis. High-risk adults, including those with chronic lung conditions like asthma and COPD, should also get vaccinated against pertussis. Pregnant individuals should get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks to protect their newborns.

If you have been in close contact with someone who has whooping cough, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics as a preventative measure. It's crucial to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face, and wear a mask in crowded areas to reduce your risk of infection.

Despite feeling like a severe cold or flu, whooping cough, a respiratory infection, could be the culprit.
Whooping cough is marked by coughing fits so intense they rob you of breath, often accompanied by a high-pitched groan while gasping for air.
Cases of whooping cough drastically increased, making it important to recognize the signs in adults.
After initial cold-like symptoms, such as congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, low-grade fever, and a mild cough, the cough will worsen, leading to frequent and intense fits.
Late-stage symptoms may include panting for breath, producing a lot of mucus, feeling dizzy or passing out, having trouble sleeping, vomiting, and extreme tiredness.
The distinctive "whoop" sound is not produced by everyone with whooping cough, but it's a characteristic marker of the infection.
Given the early symptoms' similarity to a cold or influenza, your doctor may not initially suspect whooping cough, especially if it has been coughing for only a few days.
If your symptoms last more than a week and are particularly severe, your doctor may run a lab test to confirm pertussis.
The test may involve collecting fluid from the back of your nose via a long swab or aspiration.
If diagnosed with whooping cough, your doctor is likely to prescribe an antibiotic called azithromycin to eliminate the B. pertussis bacteria.
Taking the antibiotic within the five-day course should help you recover, but the cough can linger for several weeks.
If the infection has been present for three or more weeks at the time of diagnosis, the antibiotic may not be prescribed, and rest, hydration, and managing stress will be the best treatments.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent whooping cough, with adults receiving a Td booster every ten years or the Tdap shot if not vaccinated as a child.
Pregnant individuals should get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks to protect their newborns.
High-risk adults, including those with chronic lung conditions like asthma and COPD, should also get vaccinated against pertussis.
To reduce your risk of infection, frequently wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and wear a mask in crowded areas, as well as considering getting a Tdap vaccine.