Whooping Cough vs. Common Cold: How to Tell the Difference

Understanding the Common Cold

Symptoms:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Mild to moderate coughing
• Sneezing
• Fatigue
• Mild headache

Recognizing Whooping Cough

Symptoms:

• Severe coughing fits
• “Whooping” sound when gasping for air after a coughing fit
• Vomiting after coughing
• Fatigue after coughing spells
• A possible fever

The Key Differences

Onset:

• Common Cold: Gradual; typically begins with a sore throat and runny nose.
• Whooping Cough: Starts like a cold but develops severe coughing fits after 1-2 weeks.

Cough:

• Common Cold: Mild to moderate and productive.
• Whooping Cough: Severe and dry with a characteristic whoop sound.

Duration:

• Common Cold: Peaks around 3-5 days and resolves within a week.
• Whooping Cough: Prolonged illness that can last for months.

Vaccine:

• Common Cold: No vaccine available.
• Whooping Cough: Preventable by vaccine.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Common Cold Treatment:

• Rest and hydration.
• Over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies.
• Throat lozenges and saline nasal drops or sprays.

Whooping Cough Treatment:

• Antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading.
• Hospitalization in severe cases, especially for infants.

Prevention Is Key