What is whooping cough (pertussis)?
Whooping cough, or pertussis, mainly affects infants and young
children. Caused by a bacterium, it is characterized by paroxysms
(intense fits or spells) of coughing that end with the
characteristic whoop as air is inhaled. Whooping cough caused
thousands of deaths in the 1930s and 1940s, but, with the advent
of the pertussis vaccine, the rate of death has declined
dramatically. Recent epidemics have occurred in areas where
vaccine rates have fallen.
What causes whooping cough?
Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.
It is spread through children from exposure to infected persons
through droplets in the air. Once the bacteria is in the child's
airways, swelling of the airways and mucus production begins.
This disease can be prevented with proper immunizations using the
pertussis vaccine. This is usually part of the DTaP vaccine - or
the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. This vaccine is usually
given to children at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months of age, with a
booster at 4 to 6 years of age. The acellular pertussis vaccine
now recommended produces fewer adverse reactions than the older
vaccine.
What
are the symptoms of whooping cough?
The disease usually takes one to three weeks to incubate, with the
child usually passing through three stages. The following are the
most common symptoms of whooping cough, according to each stage.
However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms
may include:
catarrhal stage (often lasts one to two
weeks):-
mild cough
low grade fever
runny nose
acute phase (may last for several weeks):-
cough gets worse and comes in
severe fits
cough is dry and harsh
cough ends with a whoop sound
on inspiration
child may vomit with the
coughing and appear to be strangling on the vomit
cough can be started by many
factors, including feeding, crying, or playing
recovery phase (usually begins around the
fourth week) :-
vomiting and the whooping
cough cease first
the cough usually decreases
around the sixth week, but may continue on occasion for the next
one to 2 months.
Whooping cough can last up to several weeks and
can lead to pneumonia.
The symptoms of whooping cough may resemble other medical
conditions. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
Treatment for whooping cough:
Specific treatment for whooping cough will be determined by your
child's physician based on:
your child's age, overall
health, and medical history
extent of the condition
your child's tolerance for
specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of
the condition
your opinion or preference
Other treatment may include the
following:
keeping your child warm
eating small, frequent meals
increased fluid intake
reducing stimuli that may
provoke coughing
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