Why is whooping cough milder during the day and worse at night?

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
Updated on February 26, 2025
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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.

Other Voices

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After receiving the DTP vaccine, can you still get whooping cough?

The DTP vaccine is a combination of pertussis bacteria, diphtheria toxoid, and tetanus toxoid, which can prevent whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus simultaneously. The target group for the DTP vaccine is children aged 3 months to 7 years. The DTP vaccine requires three consecutive shots. Only after the three consecutive injections will sufficient antibodies be produced. However, these antibodies can only be maintained for a certain period of time and do not provide lifelong immunity. Many parents mistakenly think that once their child is vaccinated, they are invulnerable to all diseases, but this is an unscientific notion. The efficacy of vaccines is not 100%. The common basic vaccines currently used generally have an efficacy rate of over 80%, meaning that after vaccination, 80% of people will produce antibodies. However, since the antibody concentration of some vaccines can decrease significantly over time to a level that does not reach the immunity concentration, booster shots are necessary.

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What should be paid attention to in the diet for whooping cough?

Whooping cough is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by infection with Bordetella pertussis, mainly characterized by paroxysmal spasmodic cough, crowing inspiratory noise, commonly seen in children. In terms of diet, children with whooping cough should eat light and nutritious food. Do not eat spicy, greasy, or cold foods, as spicy foods can irritate the tracheal mucosa, and cold or greasy foods can damage the spleen and stomach, potentially exacerbating inflammatory changes.

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Pertussis transmission routes

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a contagious respiratory disease often seen in children. It is typically caused by infection with the Bordetella pertussis or Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria, and is mainly transmitted through airborne droplets and close contact with infected individuals. It has a strong contagion potential, with contagiousness becoming significant about two to three weeks from the incubation period to the onset of symptoms. Once diagnosed, it is crucial to isolate the patient promptly and administer medications to alleviate discomfort. Diagnosis is usually confirmed through the cultivation of the pathogen. Treatment includes medications to thin the mucus, isolation of the infectious source, and the use of macrolide antibiotics like erythromycin or azithromycin to manage inflammation during the acute phase.

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Can adult whooping cough heal itself?

Adults with pertussis, a condition that can resolve on its own if the symptoms are mild and the body's immune function is normal. However, decisions should be based on individual constitution, and not all patients can self-heal, especially those who are frail or have endocrine diseases generally cannot recover on their own. It is necessary to timely choose macrolide antibiotics and combine them with symptomatic treatment to alleviate symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing, and fever. Regular exercise is needed to boost immunity.

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Pertussis prone age group

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. The main age group affected by this disease are infants and young children, with the highest susceptibility seen in children under five years old, particularly infants younger than one year. The incidence of this disease has significantly decreased due to the widespread implementation of pertussis vaccination. Clinically, the disease is characterized by a cough that gradually worsens, presenting as typical paroxysmal, frequent coughing, and frothy sputum, with a crowing echo in the cough. The course of the disease can last up to three months.