Whooping cough is not just a children's disease...
Whoop-de-do
It's official. I am recovering from pertussis, better known as whooping cough. "Whooping cough, you say? But that's a kids' disease." I was just as sceptical when it was suggested by a friend that the symptoms I had been describing were suggestive of the condition. I was inoculated as an infant, and so I was protected for life, wasn't I? Well as it turns out, no.
I looked into it. According to the NHS web page and others on the subject my developing condition was a perfect match. Starting off with a couple of days with what felt like a short mild 'flu leaving a residual tickly cough, which just will not go. After 10 days or so of it becoming more persistent, it then turned nasty. A week later, despite finishing two parallel courses of antibiotics the coughing fits, whilst no longer congested, were as violent as ever, if not moreso causing near black-outs. It was at this point that whooping cough was suggested to me, and despite my initial scepticism I was quickly convinced. The doctor I had been seeing was less so, because she never heard me "whoop". Because I am asthmatic, I have learnt very deep lung control, so rather than whooping and gasping for breath I had the gasping under control. Despite the uncertainty I persuaded her to request an antibody blood test, the result of which turned up yesterday providing absolute confirmation dispelling any doubt.
I am pretty sure I know where I contracted it, too. A few days before the initial "'flu" bout a woman on the underground was coughing violently - REALLY violently - and not making the slightest effort to cover her mouth or even reach for a handkerchief whilst looking up and down the carriage and effectively spraying it everywhere. Pertussis is HIGHLY contagious over a period of several weeks, and an enclosed underground carriage is an ideally contained environment for it just to circulate round and round.
Going back to the NHS information on the subject, apparently because of the prevalence of infant inoculation incidence is now higher in later adults, as the effectiveness of inoculation can wear off over time. So do yourself a favour, and familiarise yourself with the symptoms. And if you were inoculated over 40 years ago, and you get a persistent tickly cough, be aware that it might be whooping cough, which is highly contagious for several weeks if not treated with antibiotics. If you cough in public, do those around you a favour and cover up with a tissue, and be aware that those in close contact with you are particularly at risk.
