Cough suddenly worsening - is this normal?

[FraterculaArctica]

I went down with a heavy cold on Boxing Day. Started with sore throat, then cough, streaming nose, aching (no temp though), and lay in bed all 27th and 28th. Not fun but that's life, my DP and lots of friends/colleagues had something similar.

Was gradually getting better, still coughing chestily on and off but in a sort of last-ditch clearing gunk sort of way, not particularly bothersome. Till today when I have been unable to stop coughing since 7 am, it's nearly been making me vomit. Feel shivery and think I'm running a slight temperature. Head aches.

Has anyone else had a bug that's come back with a vengeance like this - is this normal? I suspect there's not much point going to the GP, or am I wrong?

Thanks and hope everyone else suffering gets better soon!

Sounds like a secondary infection. You need to pop and see your GP, they are usually a lot better at diagnosing than Doctor Mumsnet.

I hope you're on the mend quickly.

I have had exactly same, the cough has lingered though my worse part has been the sore throat, I have taken so many paracetamol I am rattling! It's an odd one because it has lingered for well over a week and I am no where near better yet!!

MIght be worth a GP visit if you feel so bad though, hope you pick up soon!

Thanks folks. I'm wondering whether I should see GP anyway, because (sorry to drip-feed, and yes I'm well aware of the pun...) I've got really bad urinary incontinence associated with the cough. TMI but my jeans were soaked when I got home today. I'm early 30s, so younger than I would expect to have to deal with a problem like this...

I have the same thing. Well, started the same way and has followed the same path. Initially diagnosed with a chest infection/pleurisy, they are now doing a blood test tomorrow and thinking it's whooping cough....

Oh, and re the second issue I mentioned, I've never been pregnant.

I would definitely see the gp just to get your cough checked. i am on my 2nd course of antibiotics for a chest infection and have also been incontinent with it, something I have never sufdered before

For those whose coughing is causing incontinence ... have you considered that you may be having whooping cough?

I will see if I can find a link.

Symptoms
Early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to the common cold or bronchitis and may include runny nose, sneezing, and low-grade fever. Coughing spasms become progressively worse, and can be accompanied by vomiting or urinary incontinence. Sometimes a ?whoop? sound occurs while gasping for breath at the end of a coughing spell. Adults rarely have the classic ?whoop,? but the cough spasms can last for weeks or even months.

You can find this here

Another useful website about here

My cough changed from productive to dry... Kept on hacking, had horrible acid burning/ heartburn before being sick. Went to GP and it was whopping cough! Ribs, back so sore... Feeling really naff still.

Right, back from GP. Been prescribed amoxycillin. I asked about whooping cough, she wasn't very knowledgeable though... said 'it won't be that if you were vaccinated as a child' and 'if it was whooping cough you'd be coughing all the time'. both of which I know are wrong!

I'm hoping the antibiotics will help whatever it is...

I was vaccinated as a child... Now 30. I coughed less with WC then chest infection!

I was fully vaccinated, still got it. DD was fully vaccinated, still got it.

Firstly, vaccination is about 90% effective, which means that 1 in 10 of vaccinated children when exposed still gets it. Secondly, its effectiveness wears off over time.

I wasn't coughing all the time. Now and then I had a terrible bout of coughing (3-4 times per 24 hours). I had one when at GP, that did help with diagnosing.