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Whooping Cough - Causes, Symptoms, Health Insurance Coverage

Benefits

​What Is Whooping Cough?

​

Pertussis or more commonly known as whooping cough is a highly infectious respiratory tract disease. Whooping comes from the ‘whoop’ sound that a person infected by this disease makes when he/ she breathes. Death due to whooping cough is very rare, however, if an infant is suffering from this disease, there is a high chance of demise. That is why it is advisable to get vaccinated against whooping cough if there is an infant in your home. 

Symptoms


When a person is infected with whooping cough, it takes approximately 7 to 10 days for symptoms to show up. In some cases, it can take more than 10 days. The symptoms of whooping cough are similar to the common cold. Signs and symptoms of this disease are mild at first and with time get worse. Given below are some of the signs and symptoms of whooping cough:

  • Running nose​
  • Cough
  • Congestion in the nasal passage 
  • Watery and red eyes
  • Fever
  • Accumulation of thick mucus around the airway 
  • Vomiting
  • Face turns blue or red 
  • Fatigue
  • While breathing, makes a high-pitched "whoop" sound 

    • If you are facing any of the symptoms mentioned above, you should immediately book an appointment with your doctor to get proper consultation. 

    ​Diagnosis

    It is hard for your doctor to diagnose whooping cough only by physical examination as symptoms of this disease are quite similar to cold, bronchitis, or the flu. However, with the help of the sounds that you make while breathing, your doctor may diagnose it. You may go through the following tests:

  • ​Nose or Throat Culture: In this type of testing, a simple swab is taken from the area where your nose and throat meet. Then it is used to see whether there is a bacterium that is causing whooping cough or not.
  • Blood Test: In this test, your doctor sees whether there is an elevation in white blood cell count or not. However, this test cant diagnoses whooping cough precisely. 


    • Treatment


    If your doctor diagnoses whooping cough at an early stage, then he/ she may prescribe you antibiotics that can give you relief against coughing and other symptoms. Antibiotics are also useful in preventing the spread of the infection. However, many people get diagnosed late as symptoms start showing only after approximately 10 days. You should avoid using medications like cough suppressants, or expectorants as they hardly work. You should keep yourself hydrated and drink warm fluids. 


    ​Health Insurance


    With the rise in modernization in the healthcare sector, the cost of basic treatment has also increased. Getting treatment for whooping cough can affect your finances and can hurt your savings. This is the reason why many experts recommend health insurance​. This plan will take care of your medical expenses and hospitalization bills so that you only have to worry about your recovery. You should buy health insurance from a reputable insurer such as Reliance General Insurance to enhance your financial portfolio. This plan can also help you in tax planning as you will tax benefits on the premium paid towards medical insurance. You can also opt for cashless settlement. You can get the best treatment from your insurer’s network hospitals.