PERTUSSIS

WHOOPING COUGH

In the battle against whooping cough,

she needs more than cute

Definition
Pertussis,

also known as whooping cough, is a highly

contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the
bacteriumBordetella pertussis.

Pertussis

is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing

which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many
coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep
breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most
commonly affects infants and young children and can be
fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age

Signs and Symptoms

Once

you become infected with whooping

cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for
signs and symptoms to appear, though it
can sometimes take longer. They're usually
mild at first and resemble those of a
common cold:

Runny
Nasal
Red,

nose

congestion

watery eyes

Fever
Cough

Signs and Symptoms

After

a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Thick mucus

accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable
coughing. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:

Provoke

vomiting

Result

in a red or blue face

Cause

extreme fatigue

End

with a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath

of air

Diagnosis

Pertussis (whooping cough) can be diagnosed by taking into

consideration if you have been exposed to pertussis and by doing a:

History of typicalsigns & symptoms

Physical examination

Laboratory testwhich involves taking a sample of secretions (with a

swab or syringe filled with saline) from the back of the throat
through the nose see Figure 1 andvideo demonstrations.

Blood test

How does whooping cough

spread?

Whooping cough spreads easily through the air when a person

who has whooping cough breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Almost
everyone who is not immune to whooping cough will get sick if
exposed to it. A person can spread the disease from the very
beginning of the sickness (when he has cold-like symptoms) and
for at least 2 weeks after coughing starts.

Your baby can catch whooping cough from adults, grandparents,

or older brothers or sisters who dont know they have the disease.
New moms with whooping cough can give it to their newborn
babies.

Proper technique for

obtaining a
nasopharyngeal
specimen for
isolation ofBordetella
pertussis

Treatment

Pertussis is generally treated with antibiotics and early treatment is very

important. Treatment may make your infection less severe if it is started early,
before coughing fits begin. Treatment can also help prevent spreading the disease
to close contacts (people who have spent a lot of time around the infected
person). Treatment after three weeks of illness is unlikely to help because the
bacteria are gone from your body, even though you usually will still have
symptoms. This is because the bacteria have already done damage to your body.

There are several antibiotics available to treat pertussis. If you or your child is
diagnosed with pertussis, your doctor will explain how to treat the infection.

Pertussis can sometimes be very serious, requiring treatment in the hospital.

Infants are at greatest risk for severecomplicationsfrom pertussis.

Prevention

Vaccines

The best way to prevent pertussis (whooping cough) among

infants, children, teens, and adults is to get vaccinated. Also, keep
infants and other people at high risk for pertussis complications
away from infected people.

In the United States, the recommended pertussis vaccine for

infants and children is called DTaP. This is a combination vaccine
that protects against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus and
pertussis.

The childhood
whooping cough
vaccine (DTaP)
protects most children
for at least 5 years

Vaccine side effects

Side effects of the vaccine are usually mild and
may include fever, crankiness, headache,
fatigue or soreness at the site of the injection.
Booster shots
Adolescents.Because immunity from the
pertussis vaccine tends to wane by age 11,
doctors recommend a booster shot at that age
to protect against whooping cough (pertussis),
diphtheria and tetanus.
Adults.Some varieties of the every-10-year
tetanus and diphtheria vaccine also include
protection against whooping cough (pertussis).
This vaccine will also reduce the risk of your
transmitting whooping cough to infants.
Pregnant women.Health experts now
recommend that pregnant women receive the
pertussis vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of
gestation. This may also give some protection
to the infant during the first few months of life.

The best way to prevent whooping

cough is with the pertussis vaccine,
which doctors often give in
combination with vaccines against two
other serious diseases diphtheria
and tetanus. Doctors recommend
beginning vaccination during infancy.
The vaccine consists of a series of five
injections, typically given to children at
these ages:
2 months
4 months
6 months
15 to 18 months
4 to 6 years

The following tips on dealing with coughing

spells apply to anyone being treated for
whooping cough at home:
Get plenty of rest.A cool, quiet and dark
bedroom may help you relax and rest better.

Home
Remedies

Drink plenty of fluids.Water, juice and

soups are good choices. In children,
especially, watch for signs of dehydration,
such as dry lips, crying without tears and
infrequent urination.
Eat smaller meals.To avoid vomiting after
coughing, eat smaller, more-frequent meals
rather than large ones.
Clean the air.Keep your home free of
irritants that can trigger coughing spells,
such as tobacco smoke and fumes from
fireplaces.
Prevent transmission.Cover your cough
and wash your hands often; if you must be
around others, wear a mask.