WHOOPING COUGH OR PERTUSSIS

 

Hello everyone !

Today we are going to give you information about whooping cough . Whooping cough 😷 cases are commonly found in Nepal: 

Whooping cough

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a serious respiratory infection caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The infection causes violent, uncontrollable coughing that can make it difficult to breathe.

While whooping cough can affect people at any age, it can be deadly for infants and young children.

 

It have 3 stage :

* catarrhal

* paroxysmal, 

* convalescent. 

The incubation period for Pertussis is 7 to 10 days.

Cause:

Pertussis, a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system.

Symptoms 

The incubation period (the time between initial infection and the onset of symptoms) for whooping cough is about 5 to 10 days, but symptoms might not appear for as long as three weeks, according to the CDCTrusted Source.

Early symptoms mimic the common cold and include a runny nose, cough, and fever. Within two weeks, a dry and persistent cough may develop that makes breathing very difficult.

Children often make a “whoop” sound when they try to take a breath after coughing spells, though this classic sound is less common in infants.

This type of severe cough can also cause:

vomiting

blue or purple skin around the mouth

dehydration

low-grade fever

breathing difficulties

# whooping cause have 2 types of symptoms:

- Early Symptoms

The disease usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever. In babies, the cough can be minimal or not even there. Babies may have a symptom known as “apnea.” Apnea is a pause in the child’s breathing pattern. Pertussis is most dangerous for babies. About half of babies younger than 1 year who get the disease need care in the hospital. Learn more about pertussis complications.

In those who have gotten the pertussis vaccine:

In most cases, the cough won’t last as many days

Coughing fits, whooping, and vomiting after coughing fits occur less often

The percentage of children with apnea (long pause in breathing), cyanosis (blue/purplish skin coloration due to lack of oxygen) and vomiting is less

Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:

Runny nose

Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)

Mild, occasional cough

Apnea – a pause in breathing (in babies)

Pertussis in its early stages appears to be nothing more than the common cold. Therefore, healthcare professionals often do not suspect or diagnose it until the more severe symptoms appear.

- Later-stage Symptoms

After 1 to 2 weeks and as the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include:

Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound

Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits

Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits

Pertussis in Babies

It is important to know that many babies with pertussis don’t cough at all. Instead it causes them to stop breathing and turn blue.

Pertussis can cause violent and rapid coughing, over and over, until the air is gone from your lungs. When there is no more air in the lungs, you are forced to inhale with a loud “whooping” sound. This extreme coughing can cause you to throw up and be very tired. Although you are often exhausted after a coughing fit, you usually appear fairly well in-between. Coughing fits generally become more common and bad as the illness continues, and can occur more often at night. The coughing fits can go on for up to 10 weeks or more. In China, pertussis is known as the “100 day cough.”

The “whoop” is often not there if you have milder (less serious) disease. The infection is generally milder in teens and adults, especially those who have gotten the pertussis vaccine.

Treatment 

Many infants and some young children will need to be hospitalized during treatment, for observation and respiratory support. Some may need intravenous (IV) fluids for dehydration if symptoms prevent them from drinking enough fluids.

Since whooping cough is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are the primary course of treatment. Antibiotics are most effective in the early stages of whooping cough. They can also be used in the late stages of the infection to prevent it from spreading to others.

While antibiotics can help treat the infection, they don’t prevent or treat the cough itself.

However, cough medicines aren’t recommended — they have no effect on whooping cough symptoms and may carry harmful side effects for infants and small children.

Most doctors suggest using humidifiers in your child’s bedroom to keep air moist and help alleviate symptoms of whooping cough.

Diagnosis 

To diagnose whooping cough, your doctor will perform a physical exam and take samples of mucus in the nose and throat. These samples will then be tested for the presence of the B. pertussis bacteria. A blood test may also be necessary to make an accurate diagnosis.

* brain damage

* pneumonia

* seizures

* bleeding in the brain

* apnea (slowed or stopped breathing)

* convulsions (uncontrollable, rapid shaking)

* death

Above point are the serious possible complications of whopping cough :

Older children and adults can experience complications as well, including:

*. difficulty sleeping

* urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control)

* pneumonia

* rib fracture

Whooping cough prevention

Vaccination is the key to prevention. The CDCTrusted Source recommends vaccination for infants at:

2 months

4 months

6 months

Booster shots are needed for children at:

15 to 18 months

4 to 6 years and again at 11 years old

Children aren’t the only ones vulnerable to whooping cough. Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated if youwork with, visit, or care for infants and childrenare over the age of 65

work in the healthcare industry.

 1. whooping cough serious?

Ans: Whooping cough is a very serious respiratory (in the lungs and breathing tubes) infection. It is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It can cause violent coughing fits. Whooping cough is most harmful for young babies and can be deadly.

2. Does whooping cough go away on its own ?

Ans : Pertussis bacteria die off naturally after three weeks of coughing. If antibiotics are not started within that time, they are no longer recommended. Antibiotics can also be given to close contacts of persons with pertussis to prevent or lessen the symptoms.

Let’s us know :

Pertussis reported cases

0 (number) in 2019

Nepal pertussis cases was at level of 0 in 2019, down from 4,153 previous year, this is a change of 100.00%.

Here below the reports of cases found in Nepal since 2008-2019 :

DATE VALUE CHANGE, %

2019 :- 0 - 100.00%

2018 :- 4,153 - 54.32 %

2017 :- 9,092 -  85.93%

2016 :- 4,890 -   10.73%

2015 :- 4,416 -  27.56 %

2014 :- 6,096 - 77.67 %

2013 :- 3,431 -115.11 %

2012 :- 1,595 -7.96 %

2011 :- 1,733 -24.42 %

2010 :- 2,293 - 2.72 %

2009 :- 2,357 - 2.61 %

2008 :- 2,297 

Note : 2020 and 2021 are not found because of the world wide pandemic which also affects in Nepal .

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