What Is 100-day Cough? Know Causes, Symptoms And Preventive Measures

100-day cough, also called whooping cough, is medically referred to as pertussis. It starts as a common cold which continues for weeks and months. This highly contagious respiratory infection is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. In this condition, a very distinct sound occurs when a person takes a breath. It is life-threatening for infants and children.

Vaccination is one of the most important preventive measures for the whooping cough. Treatment for this involves antibiotics. Despite vaccination and antibiotics, the outbreak of this disease can still occur. According to reports, over 600 cases of 100-day cough have been reported in England and Wales in 2024.

The early symptoms of the infection are a runny nose and hoarse throat. Newborns and infants under six months of age with whooping cough can develop complications such as dehydration, difficulty breathing and pneumonia. Whooping cough progresses through various stages. Initially, it may have symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and mild cough like a common cold. As the span of infection increases, a person starts developing certain coughing fits. These are accompanied by the whooping sound. Vomiting and fatigue are also caused by a bad cough. This cough can last for several weeks.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious infection. This mainly involves the use of vaccines such as diphtheria tetanus and pertussis for infants and children. Boosters are recommended to maintain immunity in adults. Pregnant women must have their vaccination to develop the necessary antibodies against this disease to avoid complications for their unborn baby. It is also important to follow good respiratory hygiene. Covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough helps prevent the spread of bacteria.

To prevent this, the DTP vaccine is administered for whooping cough in India. The D stands for Diphtheria, T stands for Tetanus and P stands for Pertussis. DTP vaccine is not given to persons above seven years of age because the Pertussis vaccine is only allowed for people below seven years of age. However, booster doses for tetanus and diphtheria are given at 11-12 years of age and once every 10 years.