10 Kennel Cough Symptoms
Kennel cough is a respiratory disease associated with dogs, cats, and other domestic and wild animals. The infection is called kennel cough because it was observed to spread rapidly amongst dogs sheltered together. Dogs can also get the infection from canine influenza virus.
While it is not common, kennel cough caused by the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium can also occur in humans. The infection is more likely to affect people with compromised immunity, such as those with HIV, and those with lung problems.
The infection affects the upper respiratory tract, causing inflammation and irritation. But how does the infection present in humans? Here are 10 kennel cough symptoms in humans to look out for.
Symptom #1: Dry Cough
A persistent dry cough is one of the symptoms of kennel cough. This may not seem distinctive because many other conditions present with this type of symptom. This is the reason why a diagnosis of kennel cough is not common. There are, in fact, less than 100 reported cases. But this does not mean that infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica does not occur.
It is probably true that many cases of kennel cough clear up by themselves or they remain and present as a persistent cough with unknown cause. In most cases, diagnosis of a B. bronchiseptica infection has occurred in people with low immunity such as those infected with HIV or those who have recently undergone surgery.
Symptom #2: Chest Pain
While it is described as a cough because of the most outstanding symptom, kennel cough is actually a bacterial infection in the respiratory tract. And although it generally affects the upper parts of the respiratory tract, the bacteria can spread downward into the lungs.
When this happens, pneumonia may develop. Pneumonia involves the inflammation of the inner lining of the air sacs. As the inflammation spreads, it can lead to chest pain. Pneumonia is known to cause serious pain and, if it remains untreated, it can lead to death especially in infants and immunocompromised individuals. It is critical that you should visit a doctor as soon as possible in the case of chest pain that may result from pneumonia.
Symptom #3: Fever
Fever is a symptom of many different types of infections in the body, and on its own is not a symptom of kennel cough. However, it is one of its common symptoms. Fever occurs when the body’s defence mechanism is working to fight the infection and return the body to good health.
Because kennel cough is caused by an infection with bacteria, it can lead to fever. At the earlier stages of the infection, an infected person will normally get a low-grade fever. However, if the infection remains untreated and active, you may experience a higher fever. A low-grade fever is below 100o F, while a high-grade fever is generally between 100oF and 103o F.
Symptom #4: Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath is another symptom of kennel cough. Breathing difficulty occurs when the inflammation in the trachea and the bronchioles causes constriction of these airways. This makes it difficult for air to flow to and from the lungs. Shortness of breath can also lead to low energy, weakness, and poor appetite.
Pneumonia and shortness of breath, and their secondary symptoms, can easily lead to death especially in infants and people with compromised immunity. It is, therefore, important to seek medical care in case you experience unexplained shortness of breath and more so if this is accompanied by other kennel cough symptoms.
Symptom #5: Weakness
Similar to other infections and diseases, infection with B. bronchiseptica can cause general body weakness. This happens because an infection triggers the defense mechanism to work harder, to produce disease fighting cells and chemicals. These cause increasing levels of inflammation in the affected parts of the body and within the bloodstream.
An infection like kennel cough also causes other symptoms like irritation, pain, and poor appetite. When these symptoms worsen, the infected person may end up eating less food than the body needs. Less food in the system adversely affects the energy production functions in the body, which leads to low energy and weakness.
Symptom #6: Sinusitis
Sinusitis or the inflammation of the sinuses is a common symptom of upper respiratory diseases. The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the forehead that produce mucus to lubricate the nasal cavity. Inflammation of the sinuses due to infection or other sources of irritation cause sinusitis.
This is a congested feeling in the nose and frontal headaches. If you have a whooping cough together with a congested feeling and probably a headache in the front regions around the nose, you could have kennel cough. It is worth noting that these kennel cough symptoms could lead to worse consequences if the condition is not treated. These include meningitis or even death.
Symptom #7: Rhinitis
Rhinitis is an upper respiratory condition that involves irritation of the nasal cavity and sneezing. It occurs when there is an irritant in the airways including pathogens that cause upper respiratory tract infections like kennel cough.
Rhinitis is closely linked to sinusitis because the sinuses open into the nasal cavity. Therefore, when one occurs and does not clear up soon, it leads to the other. Rhinitis can be acute, in which case it occurs for a short while then clears. It can also be chronic, in which case it goes on for a long time. It is imperative that you seek medical advice if you get rhinitis, together with several other symptoms of kennel cough.
Symptom #8: Abdominal Discomfort
Infections of the respiratory tract can lead to abdominal discomfort. They can also cause secondary infection or inflammation in the abdominal cavity including the peritoneum. When the peritoneum is affected, the condition is called peritonitis.
Inflammation of the peritoneum and the surrounding tissues and organs can cause abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea. It is also worth to note that abdominal discomfort, similar to chest pain and breathing difficulties, can contribute to loss of appetite and subsequently, to general body weakness. Abdominal discomfort may also be a sign of organ failure in cases where the infection leads to septicemia. For this reason, it is critical to seek medical care as soon as possible if you notice symptoms suggestive of a B. bronchiseptica infection.
Symptom #9: Meningitis
Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining of the brain called meninges. A similar lining covers the spinal cord. It is worth noting that meningitis is a dangerous condition that can lead to death within a short time.
An untreated infection with B. bronchiseptica can lead to meningitis. This happens because the bacteria infect the upper respiratory tract. The respiratory tract includes the ears and the nose, which are located close to the brain. As the bacteria multiply, they spread to the surrounding tissues. If the infection continues to be active in these areas, it soon gets to the meninges, causing the inflammation known as meningitis.
Symptom #10: Septicemia
Sepsis is a complication of infection in any part of the body, including kennel cough infection. As mentioned above, kennel cough is the result of infection of the respiratory system by B. bronchiseptica. If the infection is not treated or the treatment is not effective, the bacteria can continue multiplying within the body. This can lead to poisoning as the body’s immune system tries to fight the infection unsuccessfully.
If the body’s defense mechanism continues to a fight kennel cough infection unsuccessfully, resultant poisoning can cause septicemia. Septicemia can present with symptoms like low blood pressure, multiple organ failure, or even death.
