My daughter, Alyssa, just did not seem to be herself even at 6 weeks so I took her to the doctor and they diagnosed her with a common cold. A week later she had an Apnea spell and we took her to the emergency room. Upon arrival they said that she was hypothermic, dehydrated and her sugars were very low. After being there for 30 minutes the doctor took me aside and told me that a transport team was coming to get her to take her to Akron Children's because her lungs were starting to collapse and she was very sick. We spent 3 days there and they exhausted all resources after the diagnoses of whooping cough. She was then transported to Cleveland Clinic where she wasn't expected to survive the transport. When we arrived they put her on ECMO (which is complete life support). She was like this for two and a half weeks. The doctor's tried everything possible, but she was too sick. We had to make the decision to let our baby go. I wish I could let everyone who doesn't get their children immunized just what happens when you don't. I lost my baby because some one was worried about what "may" happen from the shot!!

My daughter, Rebeccah, was less than 2 months old when she started coughing. We took her to our local doctor who diagnosed her with pneumonia. She didn't get better, so we went to the local ER, and then a near by Children's Hospital. After about 4 weeks, she was finally diagnosed with whooping cough. She ended up in the hospital for 7 days, home for 9, and back in the hospital for 31 more days before she came home. Whooping cough can cause more than just a cough. She started having seizures and we had to drive over an hour one way to see a neurologist. She had physical therapy two days a week for months. She is doing better, but it was awful. I don't know why she got whooping cough, because no one else did.

When I was 36 years old, I developed a cold that turned into a bad cough. I was diagnosed with the flu in January, followed by walking pneumonia (chest x-ray and diagnosis). The coughing started just a few weeks later. I had an intense, incessant coughing, gagging, and dizziness (from coughing). I developed exhaustion (from coughing) and fear of sleeping knowing that I would awaken at night with coughing. I never received the diagnosis of pertussis, but I heard about it from my sons' pediatrician. I deduce that this was my true diagnosis from talking with our pediatrician, some research on my part, and from the fact that the symptoms did not begin to subside until I received Z-pack. Also, I had cracked a rib (x-ray taken) from all the coughing about 3 months into the episodes. It has been debilitating and aggravating. I was treated for allergies and bronchitis without any improvement.

I am concerned that, like many others who have commented on this site, this diagnosis is being put aside. I respect medical practitioners very much, but I am miffed that I had to suffer a broken rib and several trips to the doctor over three months before this was treated as something other than allergies. Doctors need to listen to us! I told my doctor that this was somehow different, yet he never mentioned pertussis. I can't believe I had to hear this from my pediatrician. I'm just so glad that I kept up my children's vaccinations so that they would not have this too, especially since one of my sons is diabetic and another son is a diagnosed asthmatic. Doctors simply must stay current so that they can best serve their patients!!

When I was 13 years old my grandmother was sick. She developed an extreme cough and runny nose. She coughed so hard that she was unable to catch her breath. The local doctor's office thought that it was a common cold, but after two or three weeks she went to UPMC for blood testing. The test confirmed she had whooping cough and precautionary medications were given. Luckily, she did not need to be hospitalized.

I am never sick or need to see a doctor. I have OCD. I carry a mask and white gloves in my purse and put them on when I come into contact with anyone sneezing or coughing. I had a flu back in 1972 and have never had a flu shot. I am 63 years old and healthier than anyone I know and only catch a cold approximately once every 5 years. When I began coughing, I new that this was not good, and I had no idea what it was. When I walked into the clinic with a mask and white gloves, I must have looked strange, but I don't want to get any germs from others, and don't want to give them mine. The nurses later THANKED ME for my precautions. The nurse practitioner at Sea-Mar Clinic Bellingham, WA diagnosed me after she heard me cough, saw red ears and swollen glands. She did a nasal swab to confirm the diagnosis. I assume I got this from my grandson because he was coughing about the time I was. He was never diagnosed. I am glad that I did not spread this to a baby who could possible die if they get whooping cough.

Contrary to popular belief, Pertussis is not "wiped out" and is very serious. When my daughter was 4 weeks old she started with a runny nose, low grade fever, and mild cough; then, coughing spells so severe, she would turn blue and pass out before catching her breath. Over the course of two weeks, after seeing three different doctors, my daughter had to be flown to a children's hospital that was 500 miles away(Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah). At first they thought she "just a cold", "upper-respiratory infection", and "a little cough,” but she ended up having a spinal-tap. I was so frustrated after seeing three doctors who made me feel like I was overreacting to my baby's cough. She would cough so hard she would stop breathing and pass out. It was horrible to watch a tiny baby fight for air. I don't think a lot of doctors suspect Pertussis when they hear a cough. If I had known more about Pertussis, I would have insisted on a test and treatment during the first visit. My daughter almost died, but luckily she just spent 12 days in the hospital and is now how with us.

My three month old child developed a cough and excessive thick mucus. She ended up in the hospital for three days and after a nasal swab was diagnosed with pertussis. It took almost two weeks to get the diagnosis. I feel that our pediatrician should have ruled out pertussis from the onset of her symptoms. It took several days for the test results to come back and I feel our child suffered unnecessarily. Had this been caught sooner and antibiotics started in Stage 1 of the illness, it would have been far more beneficial. She has since completed her round of antibiotics and has a long road to recovery ahead of her. They're so little and this disease really does take a lot out of them. Editor's note: It must be very hard to watch your child suffer with pertussis. Pertussis starts out with the same symptoms of the common cold, but it gets worse instead of better. Laboratory confirmation of pertussis is difficult. There are several tests available, but each test has its own draw backs. There is no “gold standard” to diagnose pertussis, and unfortunately when providers treat pertussis it helps prevent the spread of the disease, but does not usually eliminate the cough.

At 66 years of age I experienced gradual onset of what seemed like a cold. But my throat was red and very sore. I ran a low-grade temperature and was so exhausted that I couldn't even focus enough to read. I started to cough out thick yellow mucus. Everything gradually cleared up except for my fatigue and cough. At times I coughed so hard that I couldn't remain standing. Others often reacted negatively to my barking, so I excused myself, left the room, put the phone on hold or hung up. Within days of symptom onset, the clinic's attending physician diagnosed the flu and sent me home to rest. Yesterday, over a month later, my regular doctor stood by that diagnosis and said that I also have pertussis, most likely a secondary infection. I work for a Child & Family Department and just learned that at least 3 other staff members have suffered with months of severe coughing and fatigue. To my knowledge, they all kept right on working and were not diagnosed. I had regular contact with one of them, a part-time employee who receives no healthcare or leave benefits and couldn't afford to take time off for illness. I believed that my cough persisted from the flu. I had no idea it could be pertussis. My department recently started an Infant Mental Health program for parents and infants age 0-5. I'm horrified to think that unwittingly I could have infected these highly-vulnerable infants. Thanks for raising my awareness about infection, contagion and prevention issues. I got my Tdap booster yesterday, and Monday I'm going to start campaigning for staff Tdap booster shots and a program of staff-client education especially for families who visit the Child & Family Department.

My 1 year old son, Michael, started coughing shortly after his first birthday and after I got over a bad cold. I took him to his Dr. and after 4 visits he was diagnosed with a cold, a lingering cold, GERD, and then another stubborn cold. I pleaded to my Dr. to refer him to a pulmonary specialist because I knew in my heart it was not just a cold. Finally after 5 weeks my son was referred to the specialist but the appointment would take another 9 days. My son was admitted to the local hospital after another emergency room visit and the pertussis test was given. He tested positive and received breathing treatments every 3-4 hours, medications and slept most of the day. My little boy even stopped trying to walk because of severe exhaustion. He was pale and had deep dark circles under his eyes. I was so very disappointed that it took 5 weeks to get the diagnosis. After a week in the hospital he is recovering nicely and started walking again. He is going to have that cough for a while and it had taken a toll on his voice and talking ability but his still babbles away with a big smile. He also loves his new Doctor!

In January, I developed a cold but it didn't take long for it to become something worse. My lungs didn't feel right. I would get up in the morning and sense some snap crackle pop in the first breath or two. Then that was gone. Soon I was sick, feverish, night sweats, coughing, loss of appetite, loss of breath. I would be very short of breath just walking to the bathroom from bed! Then I thought I was getting better. Then, I developed hard, HARD coughing...to the point of vomiting and lots of gagging. Tomorrow will be my first day working since mid January! I am still breaking out in coughing fits. I found a web site that described exactly what I have been experiencing and I think it is pertussis. I think doctors in general do not even recognize pertussis in adults. I am now trying to get my family members vaccinated.

My son who is four months (6 wks adjusted age, born at 28 wks) was sick with coughing and poor feeding. The Pediatrician diagnosed him with bronchiolitis. His two sisters may be infected but no definitive diagnosis. He was sick for 8 days before a nasal swab and antibody blood tests were done and confirmed pertussis. He was hospitalized for 3 weeks, so far (still there) He had to be on an ECMO machine (artificial lung).

I am a 45 year old with a history of asthma. I was unable to sleep at night for more that 1-2 hours at a time. I had intense coughing and some nights I could not stop coughing. I cried the next time I went into my primary care physician because I was so worn out and frustrated. He was treating me for my asthma which causes frequent/severe coughing usually triggered by a cold. It lasted for at least 2-3 months. I was referred to a pulmonologist who performed a blood test and then was diagnosed with pertussis. I had a coworker who tested positive for pertussis after I was diagnosed. Four years later I'm still struggling. My asthma cough used to only be a problem after I got over a cold, but now due to the "post-pertussis" syndrome it has triggered more problems with my asthma and reactive airway. I had no idea it would create such a long-term effect.

My daughter, who is 4 months old, was initially seen by her pediatrician for sneezing and a cough. Two weeks later when she did not improve a nasal swab was performed. The infection came from a child that was not vaccinated. Another family member was infected. This is a very scary illness, especially for a child so young.

Four months ago my 7 year old daughter started with a cough. It just seemed to get worse until she was coughing every night to the point of vomiting and seemed to have problems catching her breath. These episodes happened up to ten times a night. We went to the pediatrician, a pediatric allergist, and ear nose and throat doctor, and the emergency room. FINALLY after four months we went to a pulmonary doctor who knew right away what she had. Her nasal swab did not test positive, but the blood test showed that she had had pertussis in the past. It is now six months later and she still coughs, but not nearly as bad as the first two months when we were up every night having up to 10 episodes with her coughing and not breathing.

At the age of 41 I developed a terrible cough. It became so severe that I would vomit with the cough. I was worried and went to a local health clinic, but when they could not diagnose me, I went to the VA hospital. I had blood drawn and a chest x-ray. After coughing for a month I was diagnosed with pertussis. I don't know where I got it because no one I know had it. In the past I had not taken the term "whooping cough" seriously, but I saw how debilitating it was for me. A few people at work had questions, so I provided them with information so that they had a little more understanding.

When I was a college student at the age of 40, I sat in front of a student who had an uncontrollable cough. About a week later I was coughing. Soon my six year old son developed the cough as well. The cough got worse and I started to choke with the cough, and my son vomited with his cough. We went to our family doctor who sent us to a pediatric allergist. After my son had a coughing spell in the doctor's office, the allergist recognized the classic “whoop” as my son struggled to get his breath. The doctor was able to diagnosis us. He took us off all medications stating that there really was no treatment and gave us an over the counter cough syrup. This was over 10 yrs ago. To this day, whenever I get a cold, I always revert to the "whooping" cough which persists until my cold has run its course. It's like my respiratory system has been permanently altered by the pertussis. I am always surprised by the intensity and harshness of the cough. Once you have pertussis, you can understand why a vaccine was developed to prevent it. (Editors note: Medications are used to prevent the spread of the disease, but the cough is not cured by the medications. Pertussis is called the 100 day cough, and is slow to resolve even with treatment.)

When I was 32 years old, my father was hospitalized. When I would visit him, I noticed that my father's room mate and his wife had terrible coughing episodes. I later developed a cough that was so intense that it gave me a headache. My cough persisted and progressed to the point that I vomited or even fainted. I went from being a physically active 32 year old attorney to being mostly homebound and inactive for several months. At first they thought I had bronchitis. I could not even drive due to my coughing fits and fainting... I was afraid I would crash my car! I was diagnosed by a nasal swab test after a week of this bad cough, but it took a long time to recover. When I was first able to leave my house again, I was in constant fear of having a coughing fit and humiliating myself in public by vomiting. At first even the slightest exertion caused a coughing fit. The public seems to know very little of this dreaded disease, and I now try to educate people whenever I can so that they will get vaccinated rather than have to suffer as I did.

At the age of 52, I contracted pertussis from my 16 year old daughter. She was diagnosed with "walking pneumonia" and put on azithromycin. She got better but continued to have a few coughing fits. I started with a low grade fever, headache, and scratchy throat. The scratchy throat became more irritated, with a constant tickle, leading to prolonged coughing. The coughing kept me awake at night. Next came the production of very thick, sticky mucous which could not easily be expelled. When it was brought up I had the sensation of my airway being shut off and struggled to breathe. In addition, I had a very low energy level and struggled to complete the activities of daily living. Over the next four weeks I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and walking pneumonia. Bronchitis was also mentioned. It was also suggested by one medical provider that the difficulty in getting my breath after a coughing bout, accompanied by thick mucous, was an "anxiety attack". This illness has been very difficult in many ways-the length of time having the horrible symptoms, the difficulty in getting the accurate diagnosis (I found your site and suggested it to my primary care provider), the frightening feeling of being unable to breathe, the discomfort of the thick mucous, the general malaise, and the pain of accompanying costocondritis. I am still having varying degrees of hoarseness and mucous production and tire easily. I am simply sick of being sick!

My five week old daughter coughed so hard she would turn blue. She was diagnosed with a virus by her pediatrician. After a night of coughing fits and her continuing to turn blue we went to a children's hospital nearby where we spent the next three weeks. She was diagnosed with pertussis following a nasal swab. All they could do was count how many times a day she had coughing fits and administer oxygen to her. It got so bad and scary that they put the resuscitation bag in her bed at night in case she stopped breathing while coughing. Each time she had a coughing fit her oxygen level would drop and sent off her monitoring equipment. I feel that an uncle we saw a week before who had a bad cough (which had been diagnosed as a sinus infection) is how my daughter got pertussis. He had just come back from traveling out of the country. My daughter was too young to get the vaccine. My lesson learned was that those near a newborn need to get a booster shot of pertussis as we are learning that the immunization wears off and older people can and are infecting helpless newborns. My daughter's two cousins were around this same uncle but both cousins were a year older and had already been immunized once.

I am 39 year old female and was diagnosed with pertussis three weeks after having a fever and a lasting cold, severe coughing, bruised feeling in my chest, fatigue and seeing "stars". I coughed, experienced incontinence due to coughing, and felt like I was choking as I drew breath which was worse at night. I began to feel that if I just coughed a little harder, I could clear the phlegm from my throat. A close friend, age 39, had gone to the doctor because she caught my cold and they diagnosed her with bronchitis. I then went to my doctor looking to be treated with antibiotics like my friend. I am uninsured so no testing was done. I was treated by my family practitioner based on symptoms, listening to my lungs, and through history. I have no idea how I contracted the disease. I took all my antibiotics on schedule & have felt almost no improvement or relief. I am exhausted, get winded with little activity, and continue to have coughing fits with exposure to cold. I have headaches nearly every day and I worry about how long I may be a danger to my family & friends. My children were immunized with DTaP so I've been told they should be safe.

I am a 42 year old female and was diagnosed with pertussis in early September and still have a residual cough. I started with a fever and a distinctive severe cough that ended with the classic "whoop" sound. My supervisor brought her son to the office right after his doctor's appointment where he was diagnosed with pertussis and she did not think about him being highly contagious. Due to my history of exposure and the experienced medical personnel who were able to identify the illness by the sound of my cough, no testing was done.

The medical community needs to be more pro-active in promoting booster shots for teens and adults. They should also make sure once a diagnosis is made that the patient or their guardian understands how contagious pertussis is.

My son Chase, 6 months of age, was having "blue spells" where he would stop breathing, turn blue, become lifeless and would have to be resuscitated. Sleep Apnea was confirmed with an abnormal sleep study. He was initially diagnosed with pneumonia. He was very weak, had little to no growth (he fell off the growth charts) and had horrible choking congestion. They also called them "breath holding spells", reflux, seizures, heart problems, Cystic Fibrosis, growth hormone deficiency and allergies. The cough began very mild and then progressed after he was diagnosed. When the cough became severe he would mainly cough all night, but never with a "whoop", and there was a rattle when he would breathe.

This all began in June and he was hospitalized in August after several visits back and forth to the Doctor. In September he was tested for pertussis, after my urging, with two separate nose cultures and a PCR test.

I believe my mother became infected after his first hospital stay in June. At the end of August my husband and I started having flu like symptoms along with a severe cough. The three of us were never diagnosed, but were assumed to have had pertussis. Chase started a new daycare the month the symptoms began and I suspect that's where he contracted the pertussis.

I am very upset that we were basically shrugged off when I suggested pertussis. They kept saying it wasn't pertussis since he did not have a "whooping" cough and was up to date on his vaccinations. I never want to see another parent go through the nightmare we lived for so many months. I had to take a leave of absence from work to care for him because he would stop breathing so often and had to be on an apnea monitor 24hours a day/7 days a week.

It has been almost 4 months since my daughter began her coughing fits. She was 17 months old when I first took her to the doctor, and they thought she had allergies compounded with teething. Then they thought she had "a touch of pneumonia." They thought the cough was from the unusual amount of congestion and post nasal drip. I was more worried than they were. They didn't see the gasping and turning blue around her mouth, or the coughing to the point of vomiting. She was put on Zithromax with no luck and then went on Erythromycin. She still whooped and gagged and vomited and would collapse in her crib from the sheer exhaustion from the coughing fits. No one told me that antibiotics wouldn't "cure" the cough. I didn't know that the cough would last for about three months even with treatment. When the dry Santa Ana winds and the smoke from the fires came, the cough seemed to get even worse. I am thankful that no one else came down with this, but am very frustrated as I listen to her coughing in the crib as I write this.

My 2 older brothers received the Pertussis immunization in the 1970's. My oldest brother died from "swelling in the brain" and my other brother became epileptic. I am debating about getting my 2 youngest daughters immunized now that whooping cough is returning. Do you have any medical information or suggestions?

Editor's Note:
How great that you are considering immunizations to protect your children from the whooping cough (pertussis)! The number of people diagnosed with pertussis has greatly increased in the last few years, so vaccinating your child against preventable diseases is more important than ever. Pertussis starts as a mild upper respiratory infection but progresses to cause coughing spells so bad that children can have problems eating, sleeping or breathing. It can take weeks to months for the cough to resolve even with appropriate antibiotic treatment. Pertussis is most severe in infants. Complications can include pneumonia, seizures brain damage and death. Pertussis is contagious with an incubation period range from 5 to 21 days. The child may look perfectly fine between coughing episodes, so let your health care provider know what symptoms you see at home.

Some children should not get vaccines, so talk with your health care provider to determine if there are any contraindications for your children. If you choose to get the vaccines, you need to keep in mind that severe reactions are very rare...less than one out a million doses. Your brothers' health problems may not have been related to the vaccines they received. No vaccines are 100% effective. Neither infection nor immunization can provide lifelong immunity, so boosters are important.