General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
Call 15 or 112 for breathing pauses, blue colouring or major difficulty catching breath. A cough in a baby under three months requires urgent medical assessment rather than waiting for a prevention appointment.
Whooping cough can begin with a runny nose and mild cough before coughing fits develop. In adults, the pattern can be less typical: the absence of the characteristic whooping sound does not rule out the illness.
Seek assessment for spasmodic coughing fits or a persistent, worsening cough, particularly beyond a week. Also report known contact with someone who has whooping cough. This does not mean waiting a week when other concerning signs are present.
Tell the doctor if you live with a baby or spend time with a vulnerable person. Whooping cough can spread to them through the respiratory route. The professional assesses the diagnosis, contacts needing protection and appropriate measures.
If whooping cough is suspected in a child, Ameli advises keeping them at home until the diagnosis has been ruled out. For confirmed illness, clarify when school or work can resume: the interval depends in particular on the prescribed treatment.
Prepare the cough’s start date, contact circumstances and signs during coughing fits for medical advice. This information does not replace examination. General prevention questions and the Mon bilan prévention page come after this assessment.
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