How to Spot and Support a Whooping Cough Case As featured in The Telegraph

Published: 05 December 2024

I was featured in The Telegraph discussing an important health issue I’ve seen come up in practice—how easily whooping cough can be missed in both children and adults.

In the piece, I shared that if a cough lasts more than two weeks—especially when paired with fatigue, fever, or known exposure to someone who tested positive—it’s a good idea to consult a GP. Timing is key: antibiotics can help in the early phase by reducing how long the illness lasts and limiting how contagious it is. After about three weeks, the focus turns to managing symptoms, as the bacteria is typically no longer active.

I also shared how I support patients at home. While cough syrups often don’t make much difference, natural options like ginger, turmeric, and saline sprays can be soothing and support general wellbeing.

Symptoms tend to worsen at night, so I recommend elevating the head with extra pillows, using a humidifier, staying hydrated, and keeping the room at a comfortable temperature.

It’s worth noting that whooping cough is highly contagious. Without antibiotics, someone can remain infectious for up to three weeks—whereas with treatment, that drops to around five days.

Read the full article in The Telegraph:
"Whooping cough – symptoms and treatments" by Emily Craig
Published 05 December 2024 

Read the article on The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/parenting/children/whooping-cough-symptoms-treatment/