How Do You Get Pertussis or Whooping Cough?
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Saturday, November 24, 2012
Whooping Cough also known as Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory system caused by Bordetella Pertussis; a gram-negative bacterium. It is highly contagious and can easily be transmitted from one person to another by direct or indirect contact. Direct contact occurs when a healthy person comes into contact with infected drops either by touching or by inhaling.
Indirect contact is through droplets (inhalation of liquid particles exhaled by an infected person through coughing, sneezing which are usually suspended on the air). Once a person is infected with Bacterium Bordetella Pertussis, initial symptoms may start showing anytime between 5 to 21 days. This is what we call the incubation period (the time between the infection and the onset of signs and symptoms).
Whooping cough is more common in children under 6 months since at this stage, they have not yet received the required immunization to protect them and only a little passive immunity is transfered from the mother. It is also common among older children with immunity problems or weakened immune system.
Whooping Cough Symptoms
Whooping cough symptoms are divided into three stages; Catarrhal, Paroxysmal and Convalescent.
Whooping Cough Catarrhal Stage
Catarrhal Stage is the initial stage which manifest itself with symptoms of upper respiratory infection or common cold, such as;
- Sneezing
- Runny nose or Coryza
- Mild coughing
- Teary eyes
- Low grade fever
- Body malaise (a general feeling of discomfort).
These symptoms usually last for 1 to 2 weeks. In some children, the only sign that might be present is a mild cough.
Whooping Cough Paroxysmal Stage
This is the second and most severe stage of disease progression. At this stage, the cough changes from mild to paroxysmal. Paroxysmal stage is characterized by the following symptoms:
- An intense bouts of coughing, composed of five to ten short, rapid coughs, followed by rapid inspiration, causing what is called the "whoop sound"; a high pitch crowing like sound.
- Presence of obvious child distress.
- A child become cynotic or red-faced due to increased effort during coughing. He or she may even stop breathing for a few seconds.
- The child nose may drain thick, tenacious mucus.
- In infant and younger children, coughing may be followed by vomiting.
- The child looks exhausted afterwards due to too much effort exerted during coughing.
- The attacks tends to be more severe during nights rather than days.
Whooping cough paroxysmal symptoms may last between 4-6 weeks. This is because even though the bacterium responsible for the infection is cleared, the cough may still continue. In older children and adults, the whooping cough paroxysmal symptoms tends to be less severe and appear like a mild form of a respiratory infection.
Whooping Cough Convalescent Stage
This is the final and symptoms cessation stage. At this stage, the symptoms of whooping cough gradually start to improve. Even though the cough may be present for sometimes longer, it appears as a single cough but not with other symptoms (paroxysmal). For children who develop upper respiratory infection a year after, may shows some paroxysmal signs and symptoms, such as coughing and vomiting.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Diagnosis
Pertussis is simply diagnosed by looking at its striking symptom; the "whooping cough". However, in children who are younger than 6 month, cough may be absent, making it even harder to diagnose.
Other tests that may be performed are; culture of Bordetella Pertussis Bacterium during Paroxysmal and Catarrhal Stages and blood test (white blood cells count).
Treatment for Pertussis
Infected individuals are most contagious during the first weeks of symptoms. However, as long as the person is coughing, he or she is still capable of transmitting it. Children are usually treated with a strong dose of antibiotics. These antibiotics shortens the communicability period and the duration of the symptoms. Droplet precaution is put in place until atleast 5 days later after an effective antibiotic therapy has been implemented.
Children are also maintained on bed rest to decrease the distress, until when the paroxysmal signs and symptoms subside.
Pertussis Complications
Possible complications associated with Pertussis are;
- Pneumonia
- Collapsing of the lungs (Atelectasis) or emphysema (air sac get damaged or enlarged).
- Seizure due to decreased oxygen going to the brain during severe paroxysmal spell.
- Nose Bleeding
- Subarachnoid bleeding due to increased force during coughing.
Whooping Cough Prevention
Whooping Cough can be prevented through vaccination with DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) immunization, given on the first immunization schedule. Children who may not have been immunized or those with compromised immune system may be given immune globulin to prevent them from contracting the infection.
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