What is the difference between whooping cough and rsv

Duration: One to two weeks. Communicability is most likely in this stage. Begins to diminish with the onset of paroxysmal coughing, but might last as long as three weeks. Parent may describe as not being able to catch breath between coughs;. The "whoop" may be absent in infants younger than 6 months and in older children and adults;. Stage 3 Convalescent stage. Duration: Four to six weeks. Symptom: Intensity of cough gradually decreases.

For more information on differentiating between respiratory syncytial virus and pertussis, contact:. Telephone: In babies, it may cause pneumonia , seizures, permanent disability due to brain damage, or death if left untreated. Whooping cough is an upper respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. Whooping cough is airborne and highly contagious.

It can also be spread by touching contaminated surfaces. Whooping cough starts out like a common cold. Its symptoms may include low-grade fever, mild coughing, a runny nose, and diarrhea. As whooping cough progresses, coughing becomes more severe. Fits of coughing that include a whooping, gasping sound can happen when a child gasps for air after uncontrollable, violent coughing. Gagging and vomiting, caused by excessive amounts of mucus, may occur. Antibiotics can help reduce symptom severity as well as the duration of whooping cough.

Whooping cough can be contagious for 2 weeks or longer after a cough has started, if no antibiotics are given. There is no vaccine that protects against croup. Your best defense against this and other viral illnesses is good hygiene that includes frequent hand washing and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

The DTaP vaccine provides protection for up to 10 years. Preteens and teens should receive a booster shot Tdap , starting at around 11 years of age. Vaccines are the most effective method of prevention. Infants and children should receive their vaccines against pertussis and other illnesses according to the schedule outlined by the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics and other authorities with advanced expertise in this area.

These vaccines are safe and failure to give them to your child in a timely fashion exposes them to unnecessary risks of serious, potentially life-threatening, illnesses such as pertussis. All others older than 11 should have one Tdap, especially if exposure to a new baby is expected.

Seeing a baby suffer from this disease is not only disheartening, but can be outright frightening. Get your little ones vaccinated on time and decrease their risk of contracting this terrible disease! Latest Blog Posts Our daughter's heart journey leads to advancements in subaortic stenosis research. What parents need to know about multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children MIS-C. Minus Related Pages.

Wash Your Hands Often. Cover Your Cough and Sneeze. Avoid Sharing When Sick. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.