Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It mainly affects young children but can also affect teenagers and adults. Vaccination is available, but its effectiveness decreases during adolescence, and booster shots are recommended. Symptoms include a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Antibiotics are used to treat the disease, but complications such as pneumonia can arise, especially in young children. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.
Whooping cough, better known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is a highly contagious disease that most commonly affects young children, however teenagers and older adults are susceptible to it, and many contract it because their immunity from vaccination as children has worn off. Although this disease poses serious health risks, it can be treated if diagnosed in its early stages and closely monitored.
Responsible for a catastrophic number of deaths before its isolation in 1906, an immunization vaccine is now available to protect against whooping cough. The vaccine is given through a series of injections and frequently in conjunction with diphtheria and tuberculosis, such as DPT. The DPT vaccine remains the most common version of the childhood immunization, but a number of children have had adverse reactions to it and other variants have been developed. Experts believe that the pertussis vaccine loses its effectiveness during adolescence and are now recommending that older teenagers get a booster shot.
Whooping cough has an incubation period ranging from seven to a full 30 days. The disease has three stages of development. The first stage, known as the catarrhal stage, develops over the first two weeks and is characterized by symptoms common to other upper respiratory infections. Runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and mild cough are all early stage symptoms. Typically, because symptoms mimic the common cold, diagnosis doesn’t come until the second stage.
During the second stage, the persistent cough gradually gets worse. It is common for sufferers to experience outbursts of coughing spasms triggered by the body’s failed attempts to dispel the mucus buildup in the airways. After coughing, the inhalation is marked by a telltale whistling or squealing sound. Breathing can be difficult and even tiring during this stage.
The final, or convalescent, phase is the recovery phase and can take an additional three to ten weeks. Cough spasms become less frequent and breathing becomes easier, however the lingering effects of whooping cough can still cause discomfort and fatigue. It is best if the treatment is given before this final stage.
Antibiotics are used to treat whooping cough and are more effective at reducing the severity of the disease when given during the earlier stages. Complications that can arise, especially in young children, include additional upper respiratory problems such as asthma, malnutrition, and rarely seizures. The number one risk associated with the disease is secondary bacterial pneumonia. Most pertussis-related deaths occur in infants and very young children. If a parent suspects that your child has been exposed to the bacteria or has symptoms related to the disease, you should take your child to a doctor as soon as possible.
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