Can whooping cough heal on its own?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on May 15, 2025
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Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, can recover on its own if the viral load is low and symptoms are mild. However, if symptoms are more typical and accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing, and paroxysmal convulsive coughing, it generally cannot recover without medical help and requires a combination of sensitive antibiotics and symptomatic treatment. Common choices include macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin. If there are symptoms of respiratory difficulty, oxygen inhalation can be used to alleviate the signs of mucosal hypoxia.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What does "one hundred days" in whooping cough refer to?

The clinical term "whooping cough" is so named because the term "hundred days" refers to the duration of the cough, symbolizing that the cough lasts a long time, the disease course is prolonged, and it tends to recur. It doesn’t necessarily mean that one will cough for exactly one hundred days. One should relax and have the correct understanding. For treating such diseases, sensitive antibiotics should be used promptly, along with symptomatic treatment. Blood tests such as a complete blood count and C-reactive protein should be conducted, along with chest X-ray, and sputum pathogen culture for definitive diagnosis, to ensure early detection and treatment.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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How to determine whether it is the paroxysmal stage or the recovery stage of pertussis?

After the incubation period, typical whooping cough goes through three clinical stages. The first stage is the catarrhal stage, also called the pre-paroxysmal stage, during which the infectivity is the strongest. If treated promptly during this stage, the progress of the disease can be controlled. If the catarrhal stage is not effectively controlled, it then enters the paroxysmal stage. During the paroxysmal stage, the patient will experience episodic spasmodic coughing, with more severe episodes at night. During spasms, there will be neck vein distension, swollen and congested eyelids and face, and cyanosis of the lips. This stage can last up to two months. After the paroxysmal stage follows the convalescent stage, where the episodic spasmodic coughing gradually decreases and becomes less severe.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to Read Pertussis Test Results

The test for whooping cough is to see if there are any pathogens in the body. If it is confirmed that there is Bordetella pertussis, it can be determined that this disease causes spasmodic coughing, which might be prolonged and recurrent. It may also lead to fever, breathing difficulties, cyanosis of the lips, and signs of hypoxia, requiring symptomatic treatment first. At the same time, selecting macrolide antibiotics to kill the Bordetella pertussis, maintaining a good mental attitude, and ensuring that the room temperature and humidity are kept at appropriate levels are important. Attention should also be paid to the disinfection of the air. Additionally, as it is a communicable disease, isolation treatment is recommended to prevent cross-infection. It is important to adjust your mental attitude, follow the course of medication, and have regular check-ups.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What does whooping cough mean?

Whooping cough is the name of a disease. It is called whooping cough because the course of the disease is relatively long, and it could potentially last for nearly a hundred days. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that one will cough for a hundred days; it's just a general term indicating that the disease has a long duration and tends to recur easily. This disease is a respiratory infectious disease, transmitted and spread through airborne droplets in clinical settings, with the main pathogens being Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Bordetella pertussis, among others. Personal hygiene habits in daily life should be paid attention to, and once diagnosed, antibiotics should be selected in time for anti-inflammatory treatment.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Why is whooping cough milder during the day and worse at night?

Whooping cough is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis infection, commonly seen in children. The main symptoms are paroxysmal spasmodic coughing, a crowing inspiratory noise, with coughing occurring both during the day and at night, more significantly at night. The main reasons are as follows: first, the dry indoor air causes irritation. Second, during the night, the mucus secreted by the bronchial mucosa cannot be expelled from the body, which stimulates the bronchial nerves and triggers worsening cough symptoms. Coughing can also cause redness of the face and ears, runny nose, nausea, and vomiting.