Whooping Cough

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Risks

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Try to stay calm and have your child rest as much as possible. Breathing problems and coughing will become worse if the child is crying and afraid.
• Do not let anyone smoke near the child. Smoke can make the breathing problems and coughing worse.
• Your child may need to go into the hospital, where the cough can be treated and breathing can be monitored.
• Whooping cough is no longer common because most children get shots to prevent it. If your child has not had a pertussis (per-TUSS-is) shot and has a cough for more than a few days that is getting worse, you should check with your doctor.

Call Your Doctor If...

• Your child has a high temperature.
• The child is tugging his or her ears or has ear pain.
• Vomiting lasts more than a few hours.
• The child is not drinking liquids.
• The cough is getting worse.
• The cough is interfering with the child's sleep and rest.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• Call 911 or 0 (operator) for help if your child has any of the following signs: trouble breathing, the skin between the ribs is being sucked-in with each breath, or lips or fingernails are turning blue or white.

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Visiting: You may stay with the child to give comfort and support. Your child will feel safer in the hospital with you nearby.
• Room: Your child will be kept away from others to avoid spreading the disease. Nurses and others will wear a face mask and gown. This may scare the child.
• Hand Washing: Wash your hands after visiting to keep from spreading the infection.
• Taking Vital Signs: These include the child's temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting heartbeats), and respirations (counting breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to the heart and lungs. Blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around the child's arm.
• Oxygen: Your child will probably be put in either a clear plastic mist tent or a high humidity room. This helps make breathing easier. Oxygen may be given using nasal prongs or a face mask.
• Pulse Oximeter: Your child may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on the ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures the oxygen in the child's blood. There is no pain.
• Chest X-ray: This picture of the heart and lungs shows how your child's heart and lungs are handling the illness.
• IV: A tube placed in your child's veins for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your child's hand or from the bend in his or her elbow. Tests will be done on the blood.
• Blood Gases: Blood is taken from an artery in your child's wrist, elbow, or groin. It is tested for the amount of oxygen in it.
• ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an electrocardiograph (e-lec-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The patches on your child's chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen. This screen shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your child's heart will be watched for signs of injury or damage that could be related to his or her illness.
• Medicines:
  • Your child will get antibiotics in the early part of the disease.
  • Antibiotics may also be used if your child has another infection, such as an ear or lung infection.
  • Cough medicines are not given for whooping cough. They provide no help.
• Postural Drainage:
  • Your child may have postural (POS-ture-ul) drainage (PD) to loosen sputum in the lungs every few hours.
  • Keeping the child's head lower than the feet, a nurse will gently tap your child's back. This will not hurt the child.
  • Your child may cough more after this is done.

After You Leave

• Be sure to give the child any medicine prescribed by your doctor.
• Your child could continue to cough for 10 weeks. Do not give cough medicine unless it's suggested by your doctor. Coughing helps keep sputum from clogging the lungs.
• If your child is having a coughing spell:
  • Put the child on his or her tummy in the crib or bed with head to one side. This is a safe position because it will prevent choking if the child vomits. Raise the foot of the crib or bed. This will help drain the lungs. You can also hold the child in a sitting position.
  • Help older children sit up and lean forward during a coughing spell. This makes it easier to cough and bring up sputum from the lungs.
• Use a cool mist humidifier in the child's room. Place it out of reach by the bed. Fill it with cool water. Direct the mist stream towards the child's face. Using the humidifier will help loosen the sputum in the child's throat.
• Your child needs rest and plenty of liquids. Feed him or her about six small meals daily. Small meals may help prevent vomiting after a coughing spell. Wait a short while before giving the child food after a coughing spell.
• Your doctor will tell you when to send your child back to school.

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