People who get tetanus suffer from stiffness and spasms of the muscles. Long coughing spells make it difficult for a person to eat, drink or even breathe. Vomiting can also follow a long coughing spell. The disease is most serious in small infants. With older children and adults the disease can be quite mild or can cause several weeks of exhausting coughing.
Whooping cough is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs.
Texas Department of Health, Immunization Division. All Rights Reserved. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.