Whooping” Cough
The “whooping” sound actually occurs after the cough, when the child tries to take in a deep breath after a round of several coughs in a row. If your child makes a “whooping” noise (which actually sounds like “hoop”) after severe bouts of rapid coughing, it is most likely a symptom of pertussis (whooping cough) - particularly if your child has not received her diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTaP) vaccinations. In infants and very young children, pertussis can be deadly, so call your child’s doctor right away.