Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious infectious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable and violent coughing.
The infection was given its name because of the high-pitched sound that's heard when an intake of breath is made after coughing.
Intense coughing can cause choking spells and even vomiting.
While anyone can get whooping cough, it's more common in infants and children who haven't been fully vaccinated against the disease.
Pertussis can be fatal, especially in babies younger than 1, since the coughing spells can make it difficult to eat, drink, or breathe.
In fact, prior to the availability of the whooping cough vaccine, pertussis was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of childhood deaths in the United States.
Children 6 months and younger are at greatest risk for catching whooping cough; a child needs at least three shots of the pertussis vaccine to become fully immune to the disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one or two out of 100 infants hospitalized for whooping cough will die from the disease.
Additionally, the vaccine given to children eventually wears off, leaving most teenagers and adults susceptible to the infection during an outbreak.
Complications associated with whooping cough vary depending on the age of the person infected, as well as other factors.
Infants and Children: Because infants and toddlers may not be fully vaccinated, they can experience serious and life-threatening complications that require hospitalization.
The CDC reports that about half of infants under age 1 who get pertussis are hospitalized.
Complications in infants and children may include:
Teens and Adults: Teens and adults often recover from whooping cough with no problems.
However, when complications (most often related to strenuous coughing) do occur, they are usually less serious, especially in those who have been vaccinated.
Complications in teens and adults may include:
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Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious infectious bacterial disease.
The hallmark of the disease is a frightening, high-pitched "whooping" sound as people struggle for breath after uncontrollable and violent coughing fits.
Cold-like symptoms, including a mild cough and fever, are usually the first signs of pertussis.
While symptoms of the common cold usually subside after a week or two, whooping cough can cause a series of severe coughing fits that continue for several weeks.
These intense coughing fits can cause vomiting and fatigue.
After becoming infected with whooping cough, it takes about seven to 10 days for signs and symptoms to appear, and sometimes longer.
Early symptoms can last for one to two weeks and usually include the following:
Symptoms begin to worsen after about a week or two, during which a thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable coughing.
These attacks may cause the following:
In teens and adults who have been vaccinated for whooping cough, the "whoop" is often not there and the infection is generally less severe.
Infants may have only a minimal cough or none at all, but rather they may struggle to breath or stop breathing all together.
Since symptoms of whooping cough can resemble those of the common cold, flu, and bronchitis, it can be difficult to diagnose.
Your doctor may perform the following to determine if you have whooping cough:
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Early treatment is very important for whooping cough (also called pertussis).
Antibiotics are often given to treat the infection, and if given before coughing attacks begin, they can make your infection less severe and keep you from spreading the disease.
If treatment is given after having the illness for three weeks, it most likely won't help.
This is because the bacteria has already done its damage and left your body, even though you may still have symptoms.
In addition, over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines will not help alleviate symptoms and should not be taken.
Several different antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that cause whooping cough, and to help quicken your recovery.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these include erythromycin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin, as well as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for infants under age 2 months.
For infants under 1 month, however, erythromycin and clarithromycin are not recommended.
Talk to your doctor about which medication is best for you or your child. Family members may also need to take preventative antibiotics.
Because infants and toddlers may not be fully vaccinated against pertussis, they can experience serious and life-threatening complications that require hospitalization since the coughing spells can make it difficult to eat, drink, or breathe.
In fact, about half of infants under age 1 who get pertussis are hospitalized, according to the CDC.
While in the hospital, your child may receive the following care:
Also, note that your child may be isolated from other people to prevent the infection from spreading, because whooping cough is highly contagious.
In addition to prescription medications, you can take the following precautions for yourself or your loved one:
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The best way to avoid getting whooping cough (also called pertussis) is to get vaccinated.
In the United States, the DTaP vaccine is often given to infants and children to prevent whooping cough. This vaccine also works to protect against the diseases diphtheria and tetanus.
DTaP consists of a series of five injections, typically given to children when they reach the following ages:
The DTaP vaccine provides protection from the three diseases for at least five years, and then begins to fade with time. This is why booster shots are needed.
Since the DTaP vaccine tends to wear off, booster shots are recommended for all age groups.
Prior to 2005, the booster only contained protection against tetanus and diphtheria, but not whooping cough. This booster was recommended for teens and adults every 10 years.
However, now there is a booster called Tdap for preteens, teens, and adults that provides protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
Doctors recommend that people get a booster at the following times:
Age 11: Since immunity from the pertussis vaccine tends to wane by this age, doctors recommend a booster shot to protect against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus.
Adults: Talk to your doctor about receiving the Tdap instead of your next regular tetanus booster that is due every 10 years. Some varieties of the every-10-years tetanus and diphtheria vaccine also include protection against whooping cough, so your doctor will know whats best for you.
Pregnancy: Pregnant women should receive the pertussis vaccine when they are between 27 and 36 weeks pregnant.
This not only protects them, but may also protect the baby for the first few months after birth.
People who receive the vaccine may experience mild symptoms including the following:
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Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com
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