urgh!

[blakeyboy]

Oh I’ve had enough of this.
This damn cold has morphed into the Cough from Hell.

It peaks in the early hours and annoys the neighbours: Nessum Dorma without the singing.

Oh it’s painful. I have gained some relief from a whole bottle of whisky in the past two days, 
and I’m totally dosed up with any chemical sprays and lozenges I could find in our kitchen drawer,
which is currently sponsored by Beyer, as far as I can tell.

I’m going into the greenhouse to breathe on some aphids.


On the upside, I’ve now qualified to represent Great Britain at the World Coughing Championships in Rome later this month!!!!

Not since my sister was runner-up at the Miss European Fire Exit finals in Helsinki in 1982 has our family been so honoured....

 

[Peckris 2]

my sisters had the cough from hell - hope it clears up soon

[blakeyboy]

Thank you.....went to the docs today to organise a scan- that damn cough has, I think, given me a hernia, like the one a cough gave me two years ago.    Damn and blast.

[copper123]

Could be whooping cough see the dr as it is treatable and it really is horrible and hangs around for ages if you dont treat it. I had had it sixteen months ago , horrible

Edited April 2 by copper123

[copper123]

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is characterised by severe coughing fits and ends with a ‘whooping’ sound as the air is inhaled.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were more than 1.51 lakh cases of whooping cough globally in 2018. The health body explains that it spreads easily from person to person, primarily through droplets from coughing or sneezing. It is most dangerous for infants and is a leading cause of disease and death in this age group.

 

How To Differentiate Between Cold And Whooping Cough

Dr Manoj says, “The primary differences between a common cold and whooping cough (pertussis) lie in their symptom progression and intensity.” He explains that a common cold typically causes mild symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat, occasional low-grade fever, and a manageable cough that resolves within a week.

Whooping cough, on the other hand, begins with similar cold-like symptoms but escalates into prolonged, severe coughing fits, the doctor distinguishes. “These fits may be followed by a distinctive 'whooping' sound as the person gasps for air—though this hallmark symptom is less common in infants, older adults, or immunocompromised individuals."

 

Stages Of Whooping Cough

The three main stages of whooping cough are:

1. Catarrhal phase (1–2 weeks): Mimics a cold with sneezing and mild cough.
2. Paroxysmal phase (1–6 weeks): Intense coughing spells, often worse at night, which may cause vomiting or breathlessness.
3. Convalescent phase (weeks to months): Gradual recovery, though coughing can linger.

When To Seek Medical Attention

Here’s who and when one should seek medical attention for whooping cough:

• Infants under 6 months, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune system face the highest risk of severe complications, such as pneumonia, rib fractures, or seizures. Rarely, it can be fatal in young babies.
• A cough that lasts over two weeks.
• Coughing fits that lead to vomiting, difficulty breathing, or cyanosis (bluish skin).
• Infants exhibit pauses in breathing (apnoea) or exhaustion after coughing.

Also Read: Rising Whooping Cough Cases In The UK Lead To Tenth Child Death

Prevention Strategies

[blakeyboy]

I did have a "whoop" with the first, damaging cough two years ago- very alarming initially!