whooping cough (pertusis)-can it cause lung damage and asthma?

[Trudi2258]

I had whooping cough 3 years ago and since then have never stopped coughing.  I have a deep dry hacking cough but more times than not its a productive cough with a lot of thick white secretions.  At times the mucous makes me feel like I am drowning-I just cant seem to get the mucous to totally go away.  My Pulmonologist diagnosised me first with post infectious cough and then cough varient asthma.  My asthma is not at all controlled despite numerous nebulizers, steroids treatments which make me profusely sweat, unable to sleep and essentially a crazy person-(so I refuse to take that daily), inhalers and now allergy shots weekly.  Is it possible that the pertusis left me with scars or other permanent lung damage?  My voice is constantly horse/raspy.  I have seen GI specilaists and had an endosocopy which showed mild reflux disease and take nexium, ENT doctors did complete sinus workup and I have no sinus problems.  I can feel the asthma attacks coming on most of the time and can lessen the symtpoms somewhat with nebulizer, rescue inhaler and cough medicine.  But there are times when I started violently coughing for no apparent reason.  Air travel worsens my symptoms which is difficult since I have to travel frequently for my job.  I have had pulmonary function tests that indicate asthma, CT Scans essentially are normal except for a 4cm lesion that has not changed.  

Does anyone know of adults who were infected with whooping cough that resulted in chronic/ hard to control asthma or other related respiratory problems and sudden onset of significant allergies?  I try like heck to make the best of it, I continue to work, I carry a portable nebulizer with me every where I go (which at times freaks out the TSA security guards in airports because they dont know what it is)  I frequently just start coughing uncontrolably which is very distressful and frightening because I then wonder...am I going to be able to control this attack this time?...which of course then makes matters and breathing  worse not to mention it is embarrasing to have this happen in public places.  
This coughing is really affecting my quality of life!!  I am so frustrated, discouraged and at a loss as to what I can do or try to make this go away or at least be under control?  Does anyone know if there is a hospital or group of doctors that specialize in chronic coughs?  I live in the Northeast section of the USA but at this point will travel anywhere to see any specialist that may have an answer.  I've read some posts discussing brittle asthma.  Do my symptoms sound similar?
HELP please!  

[6262]

I am experiencing a similair problem. I have been sick now for almost 9 months since contracting whooping cough. I have had 2 bout of sudden onset pneumonia and have been told i have permanent lung damage and damage to my voice.

Because of this I have been unable to work (it' hard to work when you just lose your voice out of the blue and have constant raspy voice!) I have lost my business as I constantly am taking time off.

I am still seeing specialists having tests and I feel sick and lethargic most of the time. I am in my 40's and I feel like an invalid.
12 months ago I was a fit and active person, successful and busy living life. I am now unable to work, can't do exercise as it bring on asthma, I get chronic lung infections, which have twice ended up in a pneumonia.

I want to punch people who try and say that adults don't get very sick with this or that it doesn't cause permanent damage. Bull&*t!!

[angelzx2]

I was diagnosed with whopping cough in feb of this year,  then contacted pneumonia in march and again in June,  both with pleurisy.  I'm constantly taking time of because i can't get my breathe and have been told by doctors that i am psychosomatic! I'm not being taken seriously by my GP and have have a loss of voice on and of since.  Not knowing a reason is making me crazy!  I know I'm not dreaming up my symptoms.

[1Anonymous1]

I also know how you feel. I suffered an upper respiratory infection for about a year before I realized it was pertussis. I was never vaccinated and I can tell you from my own experience at pertussis won't go away on its own. I want to punch people who think I'm lying or those who laugh about it but I can tell you from experience how true it really is because I nearly died.  yes, I feel like I would really like to tear into some people out there because they obviously were either vaccinated or they didn't really have pertussis but instead bronchitis. I've seen a video  of an adult hospitalized with whooping cough, so yes, it can be just as dangerous and adults as it is in children. I must now use inhalers and if I go to long without my medicine, I have serious issues. nebulizers our hospital grade treatment at home, and even ambulances carry albuterol and nebulizers for on-site treatment  so patients don't necessarily have to be transported. They even treat people with COPD. Patients are actually expected to keep their asthma medicine well-stocked and not have to depend  on emergency treatment all the time if at all. If you keep up with your treatments, there's very little to no chance you'll ever need an ambulance for your asthma as long as you can keep  your medicine well-stocked and keep up with your treatments

[Briana10109E]

i had whooping cough for weeks then one night it got really bad and i stopped breathing for 30 sec to a min and again 2 days later since then i have not stopped breathing, but i now cough alot and it slows me down from running or talking for long times , im wondering if i have asthma or something else sometimes taking deep breaths make me cough that has never happen before ?

[1Anonymous1]

breathing stopping could actually mean sleep apnea, you may want to get that checked out because one time you may not be so lucky and you may actually not be breathing for a little too long  and have a very hard time catching your breath. Don't let this go

[lucymacc57]

Wow..FINALLY...I found this blog and what a relief.  I contracted pertussis in May of 2011 and have not stopped coughing since.  I was very ill for about 2 months and since I have bouts of coughing spasms every single day.  My profession requires alot of time talking and this has been such an embarrassment since it is unpredicatable and violent.  I've tried everything and even spent time awake at night wondering if this is lung cancer.  My chest hurts from a year of coughing spells and I feel crazy.  I'll try the Drosera suggested in another post and any other suggestions are so welome.  I've been told everything from allergies to psychosimatic illness...yeah right.  Thanks for the posts and if I find the magic cure I will be sure to share...

[aprile789]

My daughter came down with pertussis last year. It took them 2 months to diagnose her and she ended up having to do 2 rounds of antibiotics. She would wake up at night gasping for air. It was very scary! Since then she has been diagnosed with asthma and her lung function is very low. She is on preventative inhaler 2 times a day and has to carry an emergency inhaler. I am concerned the whooping cough has permanently damaged her lungs. Has anyone had this confirmed?

[starpainter]

I have been on the coughing wagon for a little over a month now. My symptoms of my cough are moderately mild then what is described above. I don't have a raspy voice, I don't feel ill other then when I cough too much and get a headache for a spell. Or otherwise pass out for a few seconds.  I did how ever talk to a pharmacist and he told me that pertussis is going around in my region. What ever the case is, it seems like there is no remedy for this other then to let it work through the system. I was told by a "physicians assistant" at a no income health clinic for the poor that I have asthma. But after this went away last year, I didn't have any spells of coughing like this or wheezing or anything.  He also sent me to a cardiologist because he thought it might be associated with an anomaly in my heart beat, which racked me up a 400 dollar bill that went into collections that I can't afford to pay all for nothing.  
Anyway, the pharmacist told me to try mucinex to help break up the phloem and I will be lucky if I am over it by december.  Ladywiz, thank you for the reference to the Drosera. I may try that. And try and quit smoking in which I believe this cough has nothing to do with either because i have only been smoking for 6 years and have dealt with recurring bronchial crap for 14 years now.

[Beth1471]

I have been suffering with a dreadful cough since 4 April.  Doctor thought it was bronchial asthma as I am asthmatic and treated me for that with normal antibiotics and steroids.  When it made no difference to my condition I was put on stronger antibiotics and new inhaler.  This gave me oral thrush that was absolutely awful.  So then I am on anti-fungal tablets, they did not work and the cough by now has got progressively worse.I then am put on a three week course of steroids which brought back the oral thrush only much worse this time.  I felt like a complete mess.  Three weeks ago my doctor did a blood test for whooping cough, not had the results back yet but I am convinced this is what I have.  Five months on and I am still coughing and gasping for breath and I have been vomiting lately too.  The worst of this is the incontinence that I have had right the way through this illness.  Its just gotten worse and worse.  I am going back to doctors in the morning to see if something can be done but I doubt it.

[nlacirb]

Wow,i know how you feel .I came in contact with whooping cough in june 2012 and i have never be the one in my family who is sick . This is the worst I have ever felt and now iI wish the cough would go away and my voice would come back . I now have an inhaler. It does not help. My job is with a large retail company and they have no concern on how I feel and says I came in contact not in their company. well please keep in touch and god blessing to you

[mugsym]

I had whooping cough in September (self-diagnosed - as the clinic I went to doesn't even test for it!  They say "it doesn't matter - bronchitis, asthma, pertussis - we treat it the same way anyway".  This is a real problem!).  I took a z-pak then and feel better but am left with sudden coughing fits that can cause larynx spasms and are very embarrassing in public.  My voice is also raspy and I often have to stop mid-sentence to avoid triggering "the cough" (as my kids have dubbed it).  I have my first cold now since then and it seems to have re-triggered the cough's severity.  I have also seen a doctor who basically says it will go away with time and he sees nothing wrong!  In the meantime I feel like I can hardly hold a normal conversation!  I have searched all over the web and here is what I am going to do:

- Definitely trying the Drosera
- Will use the mucinex if needed (only have throat mucus when I have a cold though - otherwise the cough is a dry, "catchy" one)
-And plan on trying this accupresssure trick next coughing fit: Laryngospasm notch maneuver (see this link: http://academiclifeinem.blogspot.com/2010/12/trick-of-trade-laryngospasm-notch.html )

Will report back.
Unless you already had asthma and/or are coughing up tons of mucus from your lungs, I really don't think this is a lung issue at all.  It is a larynx issue.  The pertussis bacteria attaches to your larynx and I think has done some damage - making the cough reflex super sensitive and triggering spasms.  I WILL find away to beat this!  Good luck to everyone.

[1Anonymous1]

self diagnosed is right, I am also self diagnosed because I had pertussis and it nearly killed me. It took six visits to the ER before I was finally able to get in to my new doctor after my previous one died and it was a while before I could get into see the new one  and only one pill even work to actually kill the pertussis bacteria. I can't be out in the extreme cold without serious risk of an asthma attack or some other respiratory issue and I can't be around smoke either. I must be in a strictly smoke free environment unless I have a certain kind of ventilation set up to where fans are blowing the smoke a certain way out the window. It's not 100% perfect but I'm considering investing in a portable smoke eater. I don't smoke but some people I know do. I can't make them stop smoking around me  but one of them cares enough about me and wants me around bad enough to make some kind of accommodations where we're all happy. What I prefer they didn't smoke around me? Yes absolutely! However, I don't have that choice so the person who cares most about me to have me in his home will make accommodations where I don't suffer or have to run out  every time someone lights up which is usually every few minutes. If I ran out every few minutes, I wouldn't even be there at all. One place so I can control is my own house and I find it better to just stay single to reduce the risk of anyone ever bringing smoke into my home because I just can't be around it at all

[nomobetz]

Me too! I had whooping cough starting in May and was told that the cough could last 100 days. I am still coughing and it is almost December. When I cough... daily... I cough so hard that I gag. This is crazy and scary. I keep saying that I will go to the doctor "next week" if it doesn't stop. I have been saying this since the 100 day mark. I just hate to sound like a hypochondriac, so I haven't gone yet. I'm really afraid that they won't be able to find a cause, but this cough is very real and I'm really tired and embarrassed by it! Have you had a diagnosis yet? I don't smoke and have worked in a smoke free environment for almost 8 years. Thoughts??? Has anyone stopped coughing or had a successful diagnosis???

[Karen4120]

I had WC in April and was also told to expect 100 days.  Well almost 8 months later.....still dealing with this.  Although my "episodes" are nothing like they were at the beginning, they still are interfering with my life.  It will come on out of the blue (still mostly at night but I have had a few daytimes ones). It starts with my nose draining and then the nonstop cough, ends sometimes with the vomit. I take NyQuil at night and that helps to stop it.  Funny, during the heigh of WC nothing would stop the cough for me not even the prescription cough meds.

I spoke to my dr. last week and it she thought it odd I was still dealing with episodes.  They come on maybe once or twice a week.  I did have a total 8 week span when I had none, thought it was totally gone.  She wants to investigate further when I see her next month for my annual :(

I totally get your not going to the dr. yet.  I really do think this is something that has to leave our body and just hasn't yet.  I know my dr. will submit me to tons of tests and I'm sick of it all.  It took almost 5 visits before this WC was even confirmed.  I had the booster shot that was suppose to protect me from this disease 3 yrs ago.  I dread this winter and am not sure if it will still linger or not.  I can't believe I'm still dealing with this after all this time.  Reading the posts on here make me feel somewhat better that this is "normal".  I too was feeling like a hyprochondriac.  Thinking of starting a WC support group LOL!!!    Good luck !

Karen

[ripreilly]

I am in my 8th week of whooping cough....it is more exhausting then when I went thru chemo. I just had to go back to the hospital today because I thought I had a collapsed lung. They said it was pluracy. Has anyone else been diagnosed with pluracy when they had whooping cough?

[Lauren_ivy]

I was 7 when I caught whooping cough for the first time and I suffered greatly from it. Because of it I now suffer from really serious coughs whenever I get ill or have a cold. If anyone else gets a cold or cough it's very light and doesn't effect them much but with me I end up losing my voice, coughing up blood, being sick, unable to breath I have also broken 3 ribs since I was 7 just from coughing. My stomache muscles and lower back muscles do not grow properly anymore as I have ripped them so many times and to much. As you can see I have suffered a lot from having whooping cough and no matter how many times the doctors say that it's likely whooping cough will not affect you in the future it does! I have no remedies myself but would be entirely greatful for any ideas, I have tried every drug and method over the counter and nothing works good luck to the rest of you for finding a cure!

[greenm03]

I was diagnosed with whooping cough 6 years ago.  It was the worse thing I have ever been through with the exception of shingles.  Every since I have bronchitis several times a year.  I have 2 inhalers and Singular on hand at all times.  Last month, November 2012 after having the Tdap immunization in October, I went in to the dr having coughing fits that almost made me throw up.  He said I probably had it again.  This past week, Dec. 27, I went back to the dr since my cough was getting worse instead of better.  I now have a sinus infection and bronchitis added on top of whooping cough.  I am worn out!  Thank goodness I had 2 weeks off work so I can hopefully get over this.  I have also wondered if whooping cough has damaged my lungs making me more likely to get bronchitis and whooping cough again???

[hoski258]

I believe that Pertussis causes scarring to the lungs which leads to asthma I had Pertussis a year ago and have had asthma ever since. I have noticed that my symptoms subside while I am drinking my morning coffee. Unfortunately Decaf does not provide the same relief. I am going to look into drosera at the local herb shop. Thanks Lady Wiz!

[Deepete]

I am the same. I am 43 and was previously healthy. I contracted WC in Jan 13 and have not been  well since. Always coughing and cant breathe. Feel raspy all the time and itchy throat still. It has now been 6 months and I cant even walk up stairs without feeling completely out of breath. I am sure it does permanent damage.

[RonnieGirl62]

I got pertussis 8 years ago. I was 43 at the time. It was misdiagnosed in the ER as adult croup. I was coughing so hard I would vomit and even black out. I finally saw a pulmonologist and Pertussis was confirmed by blood tests. I still cannot laugh without having a coughing fit and sounding like a 10 pack a day smoker. I use rescue inhalers at the rate of 1 a week, daily nebulizer treatments, Singulair, Symbicort, and have become Prednisone dependent as well. The long-term use of Prednisone has caused steroid induced diabetes and cataracts, which can't be removed as long as I am still on steroids. My adrenals have stopped working on their own because of the long term use of steroids, and I go into adrenal failure when my docs try tapering me off.

I was active, thin and healthy before contracting pertussis. I took no medication, now I take 12 medications a day and have to inject myself with insulin as well. This is an insidious disease and awareness of the need for adult vaccination should be more prevalent. I have to get off the Prednisone now though because I am becoming insulin resistant.

I have a great pulmonologist and endocrinologist, both of whom are trying everything they can think of to help me. I even went to Hopkins. They told me the problem is that Pertussis was pretty much wiped out at one point, so there are very few practicing doctors in this country who have actually even seen a case of it, let alone treated it before.

My prayers are with all of you who are still going through this difficult recovery.

[CanadianDweller]

wow,  i can't  believe there are other people out there that feel the exact way I do. I have had the WC now since 2009.  For some reason my cough always started at the end of August,  but throughout the year,  when I laugh or have a glass of wine,  a mysterious cough would arrive,  not to mention the feeling of always trying to clear the flem out of my throat. I've been to specialists,  been through scanners,x-rays, tried every inhaler on the market. In 2010 when it came back for a second time, I tried Chinese medicine (acupuncture). My symptoms calmed a bit but here I am again in 2013 and coughing like a mad man.  Has anybody tried the DPT vaccine ? It's so frustrating,  my wife thinks it's all in my head, like a compulsive coughing disorder. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.  Help !!

[schoolingmama]

I don't know if this post is still active, it's been awhile since someone posted. I have been sick for 2 1/2 years after my second bout with whopping cough. I got my first case in Nov of 2010 and my second case (both confirmed) in Sept of 2011. I never felt like I recovered after the second case and stopped working in Jan of 2012. It's now July 2014. I have had many tests and I am currently on Symbacort and Spiriva both treatments for COPD. I don't have a formal diagnoses yet but I can't even go out of the house without having flare-ups from a number of different triggers, smoke is the worst. I can't tell you how many times I have left my cart full at the grocery store because of a coughing attack. Usually the attack ends with my throwing up (usually in my car) and then going home to have a nebuliser treatment. My lung volumes range between 59% and 71% depending on if I am sick or not at the time, that always makes my numbers worse. Peak flow meter usually measures around 170 to 200 while an average adult my size should be in the 400's. They say that I am hypersensitive and that I have over-reactive airways. They say I am too young to diagnose with COPD but treat me for it which just makes getting disability harder for me. I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, Lung Disease, SOB, Myalgia, Extrinsic Asthma, Cough Variant Asthma, and Vit D deficient. I was just tested for allergies and I am not allergic to anything. I was a functioning adult that had a good job (although I got sick often) prior to the WC. Now it's hard to do daily living and go out of the house. They know there is scar tissue in my lungs but that's about it. I know that WC brought on these problems and although I don't want to hear that other people suffer it's nice to know I am not alone. The doctors know there is a problem but can't seem to label it as anything specific..at least not yet.

[eeldivad]

I had whooping cough for 2 months before the coughing subsided.  Then I started getting headaches after being in front of a computer for more than a few hours.  I know it was pressure in my sinus area as I've gotten sinus infections in the past after getting whooping cough.  So i looked up the best option for sinus pressure and found sudafed.  They have different types so be sure to get the one with Pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg (NOT the Phenylephrine HCl 10 mg).  The 2 ingredients look similar so be sure you get the right one.  This cleared up my sinus infection and headaches.  I guess I was lucky as my lungs seem fine, but this might be useful for others who ended up with strange headaches after whooping cough.  If it helps but continue to keep coming back, then you may need something stronger to get rid of the sinus infection (sinusitis).  I heard of a procedure where they insert a balloon and inflate it in your sinus area to squeeze out the mucus and then clean it out with saline.  I might consider that if get this problem again since it's not a surgery.  That might be a good option for others who have serious cronic sinusitis.  My friend is a doctor and told me it's a 15 min procedure.

[mattiemoo]

Wow!  Have a similar story.  Active, distance cycling about 50-60 miles most weekends, awesome shape, mild asthma and mild connective tissue disorder, but didn't slow me down.  

Contracted pertussis Oct 2012 at the age of 41, and have been sick ever since.  Now on multiple nebulizer medications twice daily, Spiriva, albuterol for shortness of breath during the day...can't make it through the grocery store without getting short of breath, have a disabled parking placard for my bad days.  And, steroids help, but only at really high doses...have to start at 160 mg PO prednisone for about 3 days, then begin to taper.  If I taper too quickly (as I did this time), I have to go back up and start over. I'm taking calcium supplements, but am already getting osteopenia in my hips.   I also have tested positive for the past year for mycoplasma, which aggravates my asthma...probably got that from the high dose steroids.  

I have been in the hospital 4 times in 1 1/2 yrs for steroid treatment, went to the Cleveland Clinic for additional testing.  No definitive diagnosis...just ruled out a lot of stuff like aspergillous, pulmonary arterial hypertension, etc.  Have been allergy tested twice...all negative.  Very frustrating.  Have been advised to go to National Jewish Center in Colorado, which I'll likely do this, but I'm honestly not optimistic that it will yield anything substantial.

So frustrating.  I've read a lot of anecdotal stories about Pertussis causing permanent damage. I do believe I have read a peer-reviewed article that Pertussis can cause permanent lung damage.  I think I'm very much in that boat now.   I am fortunate to have a job where I can continue to work, but other aspects of my life have taken a significant detour...similar to what others have described.  

I do wish everyone here much luck in resolving their respiratory issues, or at least figuring out what's going on.

[kimboosan]

To anyone finding this: I too contracted WC in 2012, when I was 43. It did last hard for nearly 100 days, and I went through three rounds of antibiotics. Later that year I ended up with asthma, which put me on steroids for two weeks. Since then I've had a few coughing spells but nothing too serious, but I still get wheezy sometimes, and my overall fitness level has dropped a lot. So while I'm no where near as bad off as some other adult sufferers here, I want to add my experiences to the list of people who are dealing with long-term negative effects from WC. I used to never have problems catching my breath, or going for long walks -- now I often feel like there is brick on my chest. WC is no joke, and for adults as well as kids, the health costs can be long-term.

[jensue3300]

I had WC 3 yrs ago, since then I have breathing problems. Coughing to the point of vomiting or backing out. I have had back spasms and broken ribs from the coughing. Laughing is dangerous because I start coughing so hard I start heaving. Yes I now have asthma, I have always wondered if WC caused it. I can't seem to breath unless I have a fan blowing in my face. I am on an inhaler and sybicort twice daily, but they really don't help much at all.

[MimiCastellanos]

Wow!  I am searching for answers for WC to find out why I still have symptoms 5 years later.  I had no idea how sick WC could leave us and how desperate of a situation it is.

Fortunately, I am a nutritionalist and herbalist.  I work with alternative doctors and people who want to get well and what we do is lift diseases.  By lift diseases, I mean, remove the last vestiges of microbes that have been around for years.  Like a teen who gets mono and goes back to activity too fast.  The last of the virus is still in there and often causes exhaustion in adults until the virus comes all the way out.  When it does come out in a resurfacing, you will feel the immune system get flu like symptoms as it finally HAS TIME to address this priority.  That is the key.  When we do this, it takes some preparation to the body ready to go after it.  When people stop and give their bodies a chance to heal, a whole bunch of layers of stuff start to come out.

I wrote out this long cure.  I know it will work but I can't post it here.  I will put it on my blog simply mimi dot net.  You might need some individual coaching on the timing, but it will be easy to take you through now that I walked through it.  Come work with me.  It's affordable and you have nothing to loose.

Mimi Castellanos healthy energetics

[bujou]

I had it in May of 2013. I was very very ill for six months. And I worry there may have been permanent damage. I now suffer from mild asthma. Although when I get respiratory infections I sometimes close up and have a very difficult and frightening inability inhaling the asthma medicine. And there was one time when I thought I was going to die right in front of my kids while they looked at me with horror unable to help me. That's not something any child should ever see. BTW I caught pertussis from an non immunized child at my Daughter's school. Anybody else out there catch it that way?? Right now I am Really sick with pneumonia and relieving memories that could actually be PTSD LOL.