later: paroxysmal, tiring cough with difficulty taking a breath and a characteristic "whoop" sound ("crowing"), often with coughing up thick secretions,
coughing fits can end in vomiting and are very exhausting.
How does the disease proceed? Typically, 3 stages are distinguished:
catarrhal stage (1–3 weeks) – "cold-like" symptoms, and the disease is most infectious then,
convalescent stage (2–8 weeks) – gradual improvement, but cough can recur under the influence of effort or irritating factors.
In many adults, instead of typical fits, a chronic, long-lasting cough ("100-day cough") may persist.
Possible complications:
bronchitis or pneumonia, worsening of shortness of breath,
in children (especially infants): apnea, convulsions, cyanosis, and in severe cases neurological complications (encephalopathy),
after coughing fits, nosebleeds, petechiae on the face, subconjunctival hemorrhages may occur; in adults sometimes also urinary incontinence or sleep disorders.
When is urgent medical consultation necessary? Report urgently to a doctor or ER when the following appear:
shortness of breath, increasing difficulty breathing,
bluing of lips/face, fainting, disturbances of consciousness,
convulsions,
in infants: apnea, clear problems with breathing or feeding, apathy,
symptoms of dehydration (especially when fits end in vomiting) or high fever and deterioration of general condition.
3. Where does whooping cough occur?
Whooping cough is a cosmopolitan disease – it occurs all over the world.
Information for travelers:
the greatest risk is not associated with a specific country, but with contact with an infected person (e.g., on a plane, hotel, at family events, at work, in care facilities),
this is particularly important for people traveling with infants or visiting family with small children.
4. How to protect yourself against whooping cough?
A. General prevention
avoid close contact with people who have paroxysmal/chronic cough (especially around infants),
in the infectious season: ventilating rooms, hand hygiene, covering mouth when coughing/sneezing,
in case of suspected whooping cough in yourself or a household member – quick medical consultation (early treatment is most beneficial and shortens the period of infectivity).
B. Vaccination (most important)
Type of vaccine: In adults, combination vaccines containing a pertussis component are used, most often:
for all adults (immunity after childhood vaccinations weakens over time),
especially for: pregnant women, people from the close environment of a newborn ("cocoon" strategy), medical personnel, caregivers of infants and seniors,
people from risk groups for severe course (including seniors, smokers, people with chronic diseases).
Vaccination schedule:
children and adolescents in Poland are vaccinated obligatorily as part of the vaccination calendar,
adults, vaccinated in the past: 1 booster dose every 10 years is recommended,
unvaccinated adults: primary vaccination is recommended (schedule selection is determined by a doctor or pharmacist depending on vaccination history).
Booster doses:
standard every 10 years.
Duration of immunity:
immunity is not lifelong – therefore booster doses are needed.
Additional notes:
vaccination against whooping cough is also important because it indirectly protects infants, in whom the disease can be most dangerous,
vaccination in pregnancy (according to clinical practice) is usually performed between the 27th and 36th week to transfer antibodies to the child.
5. Summary
Whooping cough is a very infectious respiratory disease, which in adults often manifests as a long-lasting, tiring cough, and in infants can lead to dangerous complications (including apnea and hypoxia). Since immunity after vaccination weakens over time, it is worth regularly renewing vaccination, especially if you have contact with children, work with patients, are pregnant, or plan to stay in larger gatherings of people (also during travel). If you want to "close" protection before departure, it is best to get vaccinated at least 2 weeks earlier.