WHOOPING COUGH PERTUSSIS
Category: Child Health
Abstract :
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 de
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.
Facts about whooping cough:
- Although the disease can be prevented with the vaccine, it does still occur
(because of the children who are not vaccinated).
- Whooping cough usually affects children younger than 1 year.
- Seventy-five percent of children affected are under age 5.
- Fifty percent of children affected are under age 1.
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.
How is whooping cough
diagnosed?
In addition to a complete medical history and physical
examination, diagnosis of whooping cough is often confirmed with a culture taken
from the nose.
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
In many cases, the child may be hospitalized for supportive
care and monitoring. Sometimes, oxygen and intravenous (IV) fluids are needed
until the child begins to recover. Antibiotic treatment (i.e., clarithromycin
[Biaxin?] or azithromycin [Zithromax?], or a related antibiotic) may also be
ordered by your child's physician.
Family members and other people who have been in close
contact with the child usually are started on antibiotic therapy, regardless of
whether they have received the vaccine or not.
Other treatment may include the following:
- keeping your child warm
- eating small, frequent meals
- increased fluid intake
- reducing stimuli that may provoke coughing
Preventing whooping
cough:
Although a vaccine has been developed against whooping cough, which is
routinely given to children in the first year of life, cases of the disease
still occur, especially in infants younger than 6 months of age
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