Pertussis, or whooping cough as it is more commonly known, is caused by a bacterial infection. This infection enters the body through the nose and throat. It can spread very rapidly through both children and adult populations. This condition tends to be more severe in very young children, but the severity of symptoms can vary from person to person.
Whooping cough begins with normal cold symptoms:
After 7-10 days, the cough begins to turn into “coughing spells,” which make a whooping sound that is indicative of the illness. The cough will be dry and will not produce mucus. The coughing spells can be as long as a minute and can lead to a red or purple face and breathing challenges.
Infants can have particular trouble with gasping for breath and might vomit from coughing too hard. In adults, the cough might just linger without going away and without becoming severe.
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria, Bordetella pertussis. This bacterium can be communicated to others when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes near other people. The bacteria can also survive on surfaces, but it is more likely to be transmitted through coughing and sneezing.
The risk factors for whooping cough are:
Diagnosis will involve the doctor taking a medical history of the patient. The doctor will then take a nose or throat culture with a long swab. The sample that is collected will be tested to confirm that the pertussis bacteria is present. A blood test can also be done to look for high white blood cell counts as a sign of infection.
In cases where the cough is severe, a chest x-ray might be taken to confirm that there is fluid in the lungs or inflammation of the lungs.
If you get the DTaP vaccine, this can help to protect children from whooping cough. Infants, children, and adults can all get this vaccine to help protect them against this illness. If you do not have access to vaccinations, you will need to be cautious about being around people who might be sick with whooping cough. If someone in your home has whooping cough, be sure that everyone washes their hands frequently and that you keep surfaces clean and disinfected.
Treatment for whooping cough includes:
Recovery from whooping cough can be a slow process. Over time, the cough becomes milder and less common as your body continues to fight the infection.