This Illness Is Surging Right Now, And The Signs In Kids Aren't As Easy To Spot

Here's what distinguishes whooping cough from the common cold.

Among the many contagious diseases circulating right now — RSV, walking pneumonia and norovirus among them — is one that you may not have heard of for a while, or perhaps had assumed was an illness of the past: whooping cough.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial infection that initially causes symptoms similar to the common cold, such as a runny or stuffy nose, low-grade fever and mild cough.

However, after one to two weeks, symptoms may progress and become recognizable as whooping cough. These symptoms include:

Coughing fits, or paroxysms, that can continue for one to 10 weeksA high-pitched sound (the “whoop”) when inhaling after coughingExhaustion after coughing fitsVomiting from coughing so hardDifficulty sleepingTrouble breathingFractured ribs