Whooping cough causes intense coughing fits that can lead to vomiting, exhaustion, and breathing difficulties. It's most dangerous for infants and young children, and early treatment matters.
It's hard to imagine that someone can break a rib just by coughing, but with whooping cough, it's rare but possible. The force generated by severe, prolonged coughing can put enough stress on the rib cage to cause stress fractures in some cases. It's a reminder that whooping cough is worth treating early, well before symptoms reach this point.

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