What is pertussis and how does it affect people. How can whooping cough be prevented and treated. What are the vaccination requirements for school attendance. How long is a person with pertussis contagious.

Understanding Pertussis: A Serious Respiratory Infection

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by bacteria. This severe lung condition primarily affects the airways, leading to intense coughing fits that can be particularly dangerous for infants and young children. The disease’s characteristic “whoop” sound occurs when individuals struggle to breathe between coughs, giving it its colloquial name.

The severity of pertussis cannot be overstated, especially for babies with underdeveloped respiratory systems. In extreme cases, it can lead to life-threatening complications and even death. Understanding the nature of this infection is crucial for early detection and proper management.

How does pertussis spread?

Pertussis spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The highly contagious nature of the disease means that close contact with an infected individual significantly increases the risk of transmission. This ease of spread makes prevention strategies, such as vaccination and proper hygiene, essential in controlling outbreaks.

Recognizing the Stages and Symptoms of Whooping Cough

Pertussis typically progresses through three distinct stages, each with its own set of symptoms. Recognizing these stages is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Stage One: The Catarrhal Stage

The initial stage of pertussis, lasting 1-2 weeks, often mimics the common cold. Symptoms include:

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Low-grade fever
• Mild, occasional cough

During this stage, the cough gradually worsens, signaling the transition to the next phase.

Stage Two: The Paroxysmal Stage

This stage, lasting 1-2 months, is characterized by severe coughing fits. Key symptoms include:

• Intense, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched whoop
• Cyanosis (turning blue) due to lack of oxygen
• Vomiting of mucus or food after coughing
• Brief periods of apnea (stopped breathing)

Stage Three: The Convalescent Stage

The recovery phase can last weeks to months. While symptoms gradually improve, coughing fits may recur if the person contracts another respiratory illness.

Do symptoms vary among different age groups? Yes, symptom severity can differ significantly. Infants and young children often experience more severe symptoms and are at higher risk for complications. Vaccinated individuals and adults may have milder symptoms, making diagnosis more challenging.

Complications and Risks Associated with Pertussis

While pertussis can affect individuals of all ages, infants and young children face the highest risk of severe complications. These can include:

• Pneumonia
• Middle ear infections
• Dehydration
• Seizures
• Encephalopathy (altered brain function)
• Apnea (brief periods of stopped breathing)
• Death (in severe cases)

The risk of complications underscores the importance of early diagnosis, proper treatment, and preventive measures, especially vaccination.

Are there long-term effects of pertussis?

While most individuals recover fully from pertussis, some may experience lingering effects. These can include:

• Persistent cough lasting weeks or months
• Increased susceptibility to respiratory infections
• Fatigue and weakness
• In rare cases, neurological complications from severe cases

Diagnosing and Treating Whooping Cough

Accurate diagnosis of pertussis is crucial for effective treatment and preventing its spread. Diagnosis typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, and sometimes imaging studies.

Diagnostic Methods

• Clinical examination: Assessing symptoms and listening to the characteristic cough
• Nasopharyngeal swab: To collect samples for bacterial culture or PCR testing
• Blood tests: To check for elevated white blood cell count
• Chest X-ray: To rule out other respiratory conditions or check for complications like pneumonia

Treatment Approaches

Once diagnosed, pertussis is primarily treated with antibiotics. The most commonly prescribed antibiotics include:

• Azithromycin
• Erythromycin
• Clarithromycin
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (as an alternative)

Antibiotic treatment serves two crucial purposes: it helps reduce the severity and duration of symptoms if started early, and it limits the contagious period, thereby reducing transmission to others.

Is supportive care necessary alongside antibiotic treatment? Absolutely. Supportive care is essential, especially for infants and young children. This may include:

• Ensuring proper hydration
• Managing fever
• Providing a calm, restful environment
• In severe cases, hospitalization for monitoring and respiratory support

Prevention Strategies: Vaccination as the Primary Defense

Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for preventing pertussis. The pertussis vaccine is typically administered as part of combination vaccines that also protect against other diseases.

Vaccination Schedule

The recommended vaccination schedule for pertussis protection includes:

• DTaP vaccine for infants and children: Given at 2, 4, and 6 months, with boosters at 15-18 months and 4-6 years
• Tdap vaccine for adolescents and adults: A single dose, typically given around 11-12 years of age
• Td booster for adults: Every 10 years, with one dose replaced by Tdap

Are there specific recommendations for pregnant women? Yes, pregnant women should receive the Tdap vaccine during the third trimester of each pregnancy. This helps protect the newborn by passing antibodies before birth.

Additional Prevention Measures

While vaccination is crucial, other preventive strategies include:

• Practicing good hand hygiene
• Covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• Avoiding close contact with infected individuals
• Ensuring up-to-date vaccinations for those in close contact with infants

Pertussis in Schools: Vaccination Requirements and Management

Schools play a critical role in preventing the spread of pertussis. Many educational institutions have specific vaccination requirements to protect students and staff.

Vaccination Requirements for School Attendance

The typical requirements for pertussis vaccination in schools include:

• Prekindergarten: 4 age-appropriate doses
• Kindergarten through 5th grade: 5 doses (or 4 if the 4th dose was given at 4 years or older)
• 6th through 12th grade: 3 doses, including one dose of Tdap

How do schools manage pertussis outbreaks? Schools typically follow these steps:

1. Identifying and isolating suspected cases
2. Notifying health authorities and parents
3. Reviewing vaccination records
4. Recommending prophylactic antibiotics for close contacts
5. Considering temporary closure in severe outbreaks

Global Perspective: Pertussis Around the World

Pertussis remains a global health concern, affecting populations worldwide. Despite widespread vaccination efforts, the disease continues to pose challenges in both developed and developing countries.

Global Incidence and Trends

Pertussis incidence varies significantly across regions, influenced by factors such as:

• Vaccination coverage
• Healthcare access
• Surveillance capabilities
• Socioeconomic conditions

Recent years have seen resurgences in some developed countries, attributed to factors like waning immunity and vaccine hesitancy.

International Travel Considerations

Travelers should be aware of pertussis risks and take appropriate precautions:

• Ensure up-to-date vaccinations before travel
• Be aware that pertussis occurs globally
• Seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop during or after travel

How does pertussis affect different regions of the world? The impact varies:

• Developing countries: Higher incidence and mortality, especially among infants
• Developed countries: Lower overall incidence, but periodic outbreaks and concerns about waning immunity
• Endemic regions: Continuous circulation with seasonal variations

Research and Future Directions in Pertussis Management

Ongoing research aims to improve pertussis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Key areas of focus include:

Vaccine Development

• Improving vaccine efficacy and duration of protection
• Developing new vaccine formulations to address waning immunity
• Exploring novel delivery methods for enhanced immune response

Diagnostic Advancements

Efforts are underway to develop more rapid and accurate diagnostic tools, including:

• Point-of-care testing for quicker diagnosis
• Improved molecular techniques for early detection
• Biomarker identification for better disease characterization

Treatment Innovations

Research into new treatment approaches includes:

• Novel antibiotic formulations for improved efficacy
• Exploration of immunomodulatory therapies
• Development of targeted treatments to reduce symptom severity

What potential breakthroughs are on the horizon for pertussis management? Some promising areas include:

• Development of universal vaccines offering lifelong protection
• Personalized treatment approaches based on genetic factors
• Advanced epidemiological modeling for better outbreak prediction and control

As research progresses, the goal remains to reduce the global burden of pertussis through improved prevention, early detection, and effective treatment strategies. Continued vigilance, vaccination efforts, and scientific advancements will be crucial in combating this persistent respiratory threat.

Pertussis or Whooping Cough Fact Sheet

• Pertussis or Whooping Cough Fact Sheet is also available in Portable Document Format (PDF)

What is pertussis?

Pertussis is also called whooping cough. It is a serious lung infection caused by bacteria. It is also very contagious and causes coughing fits. Whooping cough is most serious for babies with very small airways. It can lead to death.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms usually appear about 7 to 10 days after exposure. But symptoms can appear from 4 to 21 days after a person is infected. It is rare but it can take up to 6 weeks to develop symptoms. Some people have milder symptoms, especially if they have been vaccinated.

Symptoms appear in 3 stages:

• Stage one lasts 1-2 weeks: runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, mild occasional cough. It may look like the common cold but the cough begins to get worse.
• Stage two can last 1-2 months: Cough becomes more severe. There are coughing fits that can be followed by a high- pitched whoop. The whoop means the person is trying to catch their breath. Sometimes a person will turn blue and vomit mucus or food. They also may have brief periods when they stop breathing.
• Stage three may last weeks to months: Recovery phase is when a person slowly gets better. Coughing fits can come back if the person gets another respiratory illness.

What are the complications of whooping cough?

Complications of whooping cough are more common in infants and young children. They may include pneumonia, middle ear infection, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, fainting, dehydration, seizures, altered brain function (encephalopathy), brief periods when breathing stops and death.

How long is a person with whooping cough contagious?

A person with whooping cough can pass it to others as soon as they get cold-like symptoms. They can also pass it up to 3 weeks after they start coughing. If the infected person takes an appropriate antibiotic, they will not spread the germ after 5 full days of treatment.

What is the treatment?

Antibiotics can prevent and treat whooping cough. Recommended antibiotics include azithromycin, erythromycin and clarithromycin. Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole can also be used.

If my child or another family member has been exposed to whooping cough, what should I do?

Call your local health department, doctor or clinic for advice. If you have close contact with an infected person, you will be given the same medicines used to treat whooping cough. This will help prevent you and others from getting sick.

What is the best way to prevent whooping cough?

The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated.

We recommend that all children and adults get a pertussis-containing vaccine.

• The recommended pertussis vaccine for infants and children is called DTaP. This protects children against 3 diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis).
• DTaP shots are given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. To maintain protection, boosters are also given at 15 through 18 months and 4 through 6 years of age.
• 7- to 10-year-olds who are not fully immunized with DTaP, should get a Tdap vaccine which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis).
• Preteens going to the doctor for their regular checkup at 11 or 12 years of age should get a booster dose of Tdap. If a preteen did not get this Tdap at 11 to 12 years, they should be vaccinated at their next doctor visit.
• All adults 19 and older who have not received a Tdap vaccine, need a booster shot.
• Adults should receive a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster every 10 years. They should also substitute a Tdap vaccine for one of the boosters. The Tdap can be given earlier than the 10-year spacing.
• It is very important for adults to make sure they are up-to-date with their pertussis-containing vaccines if they spend any time with infants. This includes parents, grandparents, siblings, babysitters, relatives and friends.
• Pregnant women should receive Tdap in the third trimester of every pregnancy to pass immunity to their newborn until the baby is old enough to begin shots at 2 months of age.
• Travelers should be up-to-date with pertussis-containing vaccines before they travel. Whooping cough occurs everywhere in the world.
• Health care staff who have direct contact with patients should get a single dose of Tdap if they have not already received it.

What are the whooping cough vaccine requirements for school attendance?

• Prekindergarten (Day Care, Head Start, or Nursery): 4 doses (age-appropriate)
• Kindergarten through 5th grade: 5 doses, or 4 doses with the 4th dose at 4 years of age or older. Or, 3 doses if they start the series at 7 years of age or older
• Grades 6 through 12th grade: 3 doses
• Grades 6 to 12: one dose of Tdap (required for students enrolling in grades 6 to 12 who have not previously received Tdap at 7 years of age or older)

What should I do if I’m not sure I received whooping cough vaccine?

Check with your doctor. An adolescent or adult without documentation of having received a primary series of at least three doses of tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines in their lifetime should receive this series. The first dose should be Tdap. The remaining two doses should be adult formulation Td.

What should I or my family do to prevent whooping cough if we travel out of the country?

Whooping cough is still common in the United States and in many other countries. Make sure that you and your children are fully vaccinated before traveling.

• Adults 19 or older should receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine. Confirm with your doctor that you have received the vaccine for pertussis.
• Infants, children and adolescents should be up-to-date with pertussis-containing vaccines as described above.

Additional Information

• Travel and whooping cough (CDC.gov)
• Learn more about whooping cough (CDC.gov)
• How can I find out about whooping cough outbreaks? (CDC. gov)
• More information about vaccine-preventable diseases

Whooping cough (pertussis) – symptoms, treatment and prevention

Key facts

• Whooping cough is a contagious illness. Bacteria Bordetella pertussis causes it.
• The cough can last for months and may have a ‘whoop’ sound.
• Whooping cough can cause serious health problems in babies.
• Vaccination is the best protection against whooping cough.
• Adults may need booster vaccines for full immunity.
• Pregnant women and adults who have contact with babies should get a booster vaccine.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection that spreads from one person to another. It causes severe bouts of coughing. The ‘whoop’ refers to the sound you may make if you take a quick breath between coughs. Pertussis, or the ‘hundred-day cough, are other names for whooping cough.

Whooping cough can feel uncomfortable and last for a long time. After one to 2 weeks, the cold symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse. After 2 to 6 weeks, the cough begins to get better. But it can take weeks to months for the cough to go away completely.

It may cause serious health problems, more so in young babies and children. The whooping cough vaccine is on the childhood immunisation schedule. This vaccination has reduced the rate of illness and hospitalisation from whooping cough in Australia. Outbreaks occur every 3–4 years and are most common in people not vaccinated.

This article gives advice for people aged 5 and above. You can find information about whooping cough during pregnancy and in babies and younger children on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

Whooping cough usually begins with cold-like symptoms including:

• runny nose
• sneezing
• mild dry cough
• fever

After these mild symptoms appear, the cough worsens.

The cough comes in long, uncontrollable bursts. This may happen at night, which may make it difficult for you to sleep. When the cough is severe, it may cause vomiting, fainting, broken ribs and poor bladder control (urinary incontinence).

Whooping cough’s most well-known symptom is the ‘whoop’ sound. Taking a quick breath between bouts of coughing causes this sound. Not everyone who has whooping cough will make the ‘whoop sound’. Babies may not have a cough at all. But they can have episodes of turning blue or pauses in their breathing.

If your child has trouble breathing or turns blue call 000 immediately — this is an emergency.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the breathing problems Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What causes whooping cough and how does it spread?

Bacteria called Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough. Having contact with an infected person’s breathing fluids spreads it. For example, if you have direct contact with an infected person or they cough or sneeze near you.

Whooping cough is contagious. If you do not get vaccinated, about 9 in 10 people who have contact with a household member with whooping cough will catch the infection.

You are contagious with whooping cough for 3 weeks after the cough starts, or until you have had 5 days of antibiotics.

If anyone in your household has whooping cough, they should not attend childcare, school or work. This is to prevent spreading the infection to others. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure whether you or your child can return to work or school.

Who is at risk of whooping cough?

Anyone of any age can catch whooping cough. Some groups have a higher risk.

These include:

• people who have not been vaccinated against whooping cough
• people who have not received a whooping cough booster vaccine in the past 10 years
• babies under 6 months old because they are not old enough to get vaccinated
• people living in the same house as someone with whooping cough

Whooping cough is most dangerous for babies. Most hospitalisations and deaths from whooping cough happen in babies who are not old enough to receive all the vaccine doses.

If you or your child has had close contact with someone who has whooping cough, speak to your doctor. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce your chance of becoming infected. This is important for young children, people at high risk of health problems and those likely to pass the infection to children.

Whooping cough is a notifiable condition. This means that your doctor needs to tell the local health authorities about the cases they see. It is important for local health authorities to know about whooping cough in the community, so they can help control an outbreak.

Can I have the whooping cough vaccine if I’m pregnant?

Pertussis-containing vaccines are safe for pregnant women. They should receive the whooping cough vaccination between 20 and 32 weeks to boost their protection against whooping cough. Vaccination at this stage of pregnancy means the mother passes on whooping cough antibodies to their growing baby. This gives the baby protection after birth — even before they are old enough to get immunised.

If you or your partner are pregnant, ask your doctor or midwife about getting vaccinated.

Partners, grandparents, carers and other adults who have contact with babies should have the whooping cough vaccine.

When should I see my doctor if I have whooping cough?

You should see your doctor if you think you or your child has whooping cough. This is to make sure you receive a diagnosis and the correct treatment.

Getting a professional diagnosis helps you get the right treatment and protects your household and close contacts. It may give health authorities important information about infections in the community.

If you or your child has trouble breathing call 000 immediately — this is an emergency.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

How will my doctor know if I have whooping cough?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and if you have been in contact with someone who has whooping cough. They will listen to your breathing.

If the doctor thinks you may have whooping cough, they might tell you to have some tests. The tests include a nose or throat swab or a blood test. These tests can help work out if you have whooping cough.

It is best to have these tests when your symptoms first start. Do not delay going to your doctor if you think you have whooping cough.

What is the treatment for whooping cough?

Antibiotics are used to treat whooping cough. While it is not usual for antibiotics to speed up your recovery, they will reduce your risk of spreading whooping cough to others. You are no longer contagious 5 days after starting antibiotics or 3 weeks after the cough starts.

You can try to relieve your symptoms with these tips:

• get plenty of rest
• drink water or other fluids — small sips may be easier to manage between bouts of coughing
• avoid cigarette smoke

How can I prevent whooping cough?

The best protection against whooping cough is vaccination.

Many illnesses show similar symptoms to whooping cough. If you and your child get vaccinated, you and your child’s symptoms may be mild.

Vaccination prevents most cases of serious illness caused by whooping cough. It also reduces the number of cases of whooping cough in the community. This will protect people who are young or unable to get vaccinated.

Vaccines against whooping cough are available as a combination vaccine. Your doctor will tell you which one is right for you depending on your age and situation.

Children and pregnant women can receive the whooping cough vaccination for free through the National Immunisation Program.

What health problems can come with whooping cough?

Most health problems due to whooping cough happen in babies and can cause long-term disability or death.

Health problems include:

• lung infection (pneumonia)
• fits (seizures)
• brain damage (encephalopathy) due to breathing problems or seizures

Resources and support

• For more information about immunisation in Australia, visit the Department of Health Immunisation website.
• The Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation website has videos and other tools to help you make decisions about immunisation and your family.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Whooping cough is an acute infectious disease affecting mainly children

Whooping cough (K.) is an acute infectious disease that mainly affects children. The disease was first described in France, during an epidemic in 1578.

The history of its name is interesting: it was originally formed from the German word “keuchhusten” (convulsive cough), which in French was transformed into consonant coqueluche (cockerel) – the well-known whooping cough.

The causative agent of whooping cough is the bacterium Bordetella pertussis or the Bordet-Jangu bacterium, named after the Belgian bacteriologists Bordet and Zhangu, who discovered and described it in the early 20th century.

Outside the body, the bacterium dies in a few hours, when boiled – instantly, but in the aerosol droplets contained in the patient’s sputum, it persists for up to a day.

Infectious disease doctors note that during the coronavirus pandemic, the incidence of whooping cough has decreased, this is due to the universal wearing of protective masks and stricter adherence to social distancing rules.

K. is considered a disease of enclosed spaces, and not just closed ones, but those where there are constantly a lot of people: for example, classes at school or groups in kindergarten, as well as public transport, etc. An aerosol with a pathogen spreads no further than 2 meters, that is, with fairly close contacts.

Mostly K. affects children under 5 years old, up to 90% of those in contact with the patient become infected, the disease is especially dangerous for babies up to a year old. The incidence is higher in winter and spring.

The pathogen enters the body by airborne droplets, and not only with a cough, but also during a conversation and settles on the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs: larynx, trachea and bronchi. Bacteria do not penetrate deep. Bacterial toxins cause local inflammation, and when they die, endotoxin (bacterial toxic substance) is released, which causes the characteristic convulsive spasmodic cough.

As the disease develops, a pathological focus of excitation is formed in the cerebral nervous respiratory center, after which a strong cough begins reflexively when exposed to the most harmless factors: touch, laughter, communication, etc. The excitation of the respiratory center can spread to nearby areas of the brain, provoking other undesirable phenomena: vomiting , increased blood pressure, vasospasm, convulsions in children after a coughing fit.

Further exposure to the pathogen K. reduces the protective properties of the body, increasing the risk of complications, the spread of Bordetella pertussis, and sometimes the ill person becomes a carrier of the infection for a long time.

Symptoms and stages of whooping cough

K. is also called the “hundred-day cough”, due to the fact that the main symptom of the disease is a debilitating paroxysmal cough that lasts a long time, 3-4 months.

1.

The incubation period of lasts up to 2 weeks (on average 7-8 days), it is dangerous because the health of the infected person is still normal, but he is already starting to secrete bacteria, infecting others. The possibility of infection is especially great in the last days of the incubation period and in the first 5-6 days of illness, when the clinical signs of K are most pronounced.

2.

Catarrhal period (stage). Duration about 10 days. The disease begins with a cough, a slight runny nose and intoxication (low body temperature). The picture resembles most colds.

3.

Paroxysmal period (from 1 to 6 weeks). Cough gradually becomes more intense, and from the 10th–14th day it becomes excruciating, coughing attacks in K. are distinguished by the appearance of reprises
– coughing shocks with respiratory arrest and difficulty in inhaling. During an attack, the skin of the face acquires a bluish tint, the tip of the tongue is bent upwards, sometimes hemorrhages appear in the skin of the face and sclera of the eyes from tension. The attack contains from 2 to 15 reprises, at the end the child can vomit.

4.

Stage of reverse development. It is divided into early (after 2-8 weeks from the onset of symptoms) and late (after 2-6 months). At this time, the general condition of the patient improves, coughing attacks are less likely to bother, the general condition of the body becomes better.

Types and severity of whooping cough

In form, K. can be both typical, with coughing fits, and atypical, with a slight cough. Dry cough with an atypical form of the disease lasts up to 50 days (on average, about a month), the temperature rarely rises.

In the moderate and severe form of K., which prevail in babies under 1 year old, the general condition worsens: the child loses weight, his level of physical development worsens. The baby stops holding his head, rolls over, sits, despite the fact that he already had these skills before the illness. When listening with a phonendoscope (auscultation), the doctor hears hard breathing.

Diagnosis

K.’s diagnosis at the initial stage is very difficult, the clinical picture resembles the onset of acute pharyngitis, a prolonged cough is also observed in acute respiratory viral infections, tuberculosis, infectious mononucleosis, cystic fibrosis, parapertussis, reflux esophagitis, etc. Therefore, it is very important to make a differential diagnosis of K. with others diseases.

Symptoms are erased in vaccinated people. An accurate diagnosis can be made when, in addition to bouts of convulsive coughing, pertussis is found in smears from the pharynx and sputum. To establish that it is Bordetella pertussis, and not similar bacteria, allows the presence of factors – agglutinogens (antigens).

Laboratory diagnostics:

· Clinical blood test.

· Bacterial culture from the nasopharynx.

· ELISA blood test for antibodies to bacteria K. Conducted 2 times in 10-14 days to track the dynamics of the disease and develop stable immunity.

Express diagnostic methods – immunofluorescent (allows you to confirm or exclude the diagnosis after 2-6 hours) and latex microagglutination (detects the pathogen in half an hour).

Treatment

A mild form of K. can be treated at home if there are no unvaccinated children in the family. The air in the room should be humidified to reduce the number of seizures, regularly ventilated and do wet cleaning, exclude the inhalation of tobacco smoke.

K. with a severe course should be treated in a hospital if a child under 2 years of age falls ill, has more than 10 coughing fits per day and stops breathing. It is also necessary in case of exacerbation of chronic diseases or the occurrence of life-threatening complications (for example, cerebrovascular accident and breathing). Children under 4 months are hospitalized necessarily.

During the catarrhal period, antibiotic therapy is used (but not longer than 7-10 days from the onset of the disease), antihistamines with a sedative effect.

In the spasmodic stage of cough, antibiotics are used only in the presence of bronchopulmonary complications, inhalations are carried out using a nebulizer, drugs with codeine, aminophylline are used to relieve attacks, and a runny nose is also treated with vasoconstrictor drugs.

Remember! Whooping cough cannot be treated on its own! Consult your doctor!

Whooping cough in adults

Although children are more likely to get sick, adults can also get sick. If a person was ill in childhood or was vaccinated on time, after 20 years the acquired immunity can be lost. If you have debilitating bouts of coughing, you need to do a bacteriological study to rule out K.

The main thing is not to take whooping cough for a common ARVI, because the methods of treatment in these two cases are radically different: for example, with K. you can’t put mustard plasters, do inhalations, warm up in a bathhouse, sauna and hot shower. The water must be warm.

You can’t prescribe antibiotics and antihistamines on your own; cough medicine should also be prescribed by a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist.

If you have been diagnosed with whooping cough, it is very useful to walk in any weather (when the air temperature is not lower than -10 ° C) and time of year to make up for the lack of oxygen. Coughing fits help relieve mild sleeping pills or sedatives. You can purchase a special antipertussis mixture, herbal preparations and products that contain licorice alleviate the condition.

Of course, you need to observe a calm regime, without nervous and physical stress and overwork.

Particular attention should be paid to the treatment of K. in patients in old age, their disease can be fatal.

Whooping cough complications

At the stage of spasmodic cough, specific complications are likely: delay and cessation of breathing (apnea), encephalic disorders: impaired behavior and attention, restless sleep in children under one year old, lag in psychomotor development, impaired cerebral circulation.

There are umbilical and inguinal hernias, nose and other bleeding, etc.

Pneumonia of the right lung

The most common non-specific complication of K. is pneumonia caused either directly by a bacterium or pathogenic microflora in the bronchi (secondary), as well as bronchitis, pleurisy, tonsillitis, lymphadenitis, purulent otitis media, etc. This mainly occurs when ARVI is layered on whooping cough, which increases its manifestations. A common cause of complications is also mycoplasma and cytomegalovirus (in young children).

K.’s relapse 2-4 months after the onset of the disease may be associated with the addition of SARS to it, however, as SARS is cured, K.’s symptoms disappear.

Prophylaxis

The basis of prevention To. is vaccination, which makes it possible to form immunity. The composition of the complex vaccine may include components to create immunity from diphtheria, tetanus (DPT – domestic vaccine), hepatitis B (DPT-hep), poliomyelitis (Tetraxim), etc.

The national calendar of preventive vaccinations of the Russian Federation provides for the introduction of a vaccine against K. to children starting from 3 months, then 3 vaccinations are made with an interval of 45 days. A year later, they are re-vaccinated.

Imported vaccines are also used (Infanrix, Tetraxim, etc. ).

All complex vaccines (excluding Adasel) have age restrictions up to 4-6 years.

Adults under 64 years of age, pregnant women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and children from 4 years of age are recommended to be revaccinated against K. every 10 years with the Adasel vaccine.

There are a number of medical contraindications to vaccinating children against K. with the DPT vaccine – such as atopic dermatitis, frequent acute respiratory infections. It is recommended that such children be vaccinated and revaccinated with the so-called cell-free vaccines that do not directly contain pertussis (Infanrix, Pentaxim, Adasel).

In the focus of the disease, in addition to vaccination of contact persons (unvaccinated and not ill), anti-epidemic measures are mandatory:

Patient K. is isolated for 25 days from the onset of the disease, contact persons are suspended from work and visiting the children’s team for 2 weeks from the moment of contact, passing 2 bacteriological samples.

Recovered children under 14 years of age are allowed to join the team if they do not have a cough and have 2 negative bacteriological examination results for K.

· Examination and treatment of all those in contact with patients, especially in the presence of a prolonged cough.

Newborns in maternity hospitals, children under 3 months and unvaccinated up to a year in case of contact with a patient, are injected intramuscularly with human immunoglobulin.

· Regular airing, disinfection and quartzization of the premises are carried out.

References:

https://probolezny.ru/koklyush/

https://www.krasotaimedicina.ru/diseases/infectious/pertussis

https://www.lvrach.ru/2005/07/4532798

https://www.doctis.ru/medicina/koklus-detskaya-bolezn-vzroslih

https://www.cmd-online.ru/patsientam/poleznyye-statii/koklyush-u-detey-i-vzroslykh/

Whooping cough – symptoms, causes, signs, diagnosis and treatment in the “SM-Clinic”

This condition is treated by Pediatrician
, Infectionist

• What is whooping cough?
• Whooping cough symptoms
• Causes of whooping cough
• Diagnosis of whooping cough in “SM-Clinic”
• Whooping cough treatment at SM-Clinic
• Whooping cough prevention
• Doctors

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Bacteria Bordetella pertussis enter the body by airborne droplets and multiply in the area of ​​the inner lining of the larynx and bronchi. Toxins secreted by pathogenic microorganisms cause an inflammatory reaction and paroxysmal cough. As the disease progresses, the respiratory center of the brain can be affected, causing the cough to get worse during laughter, pain, and talking. In addition, whooping cough negatively affects the cardiovascular system. Weakening of immunity against the background of the disease can cause a secondary infection.

Whooping cough is most commonly diagnosed in preschool children, but infection can also occur in adults. This disease poses the greatest threat to infants, who often develop pneumonia, brain damage, or other life-threatening complication of infection. The patient continues to infect other people within 25-30 days from the moment the first symptoms of the pathology appear. After vaccination, infection with Bordetella pertussis usually does not cause acute symptoms. Treatment of whooping cough involves the appointment of drug and restorative therapy.

Symptoms of whooping cough

The incubation period, during which symptoms of the disease do not yet appear, can last from several days to two weeks after infection. The first period of the disease is characterized by a dry cough, a slight increase in body temperature and a runny nose. A few days later, the patient develops an excruciating paroxysmal cough that does not go away until complete recovery.

Other symptoms and signs:

• Whistling sound during inspiration;
• Unpleasant sensations in the chest;
• throat irritation;
• Feeling short of breath when coughing
• Increased cough at night;
• Weakness and fatigue;
• Anxiety;
• Loss of appetite;
• Short-term breath holding (in young children).

Whooping cough itself does not cause a significant increase in body temperature (fever) because the bacteria do not invade deep tissues. The appearance of fever may indicate the occurrence of a secondary infection. In children under 3 years of age, atypical symptoms may occur, characterized by the absence of cough and passivity.

Causes of whooping cough

Airborne infection involves the spread of bacteria with saliva released during coughing and talking. In this regard, the disease can occur in all people in contact with the patient. Whooping cough spreads especially fast in kindergartens. Adults often carry the bacterium without any symptoms. There is no innate immunity against whooping cough, so all people are susceptible to the disease, but after vaccination or a previous infection, acquired protection is formed. The recurrence of whooping cough is rarely detected in people of advanced age.

Risk factors:

• Patient age under 7;
• Lack of vaccination;
• Constant contact with carriers of the infection while living together or visiting educational institutions;
• Congenital or acquired immunity disorder.

Vaccination does not confer lifelong protection against the bacterium, therefore it is necessary to repeat the procedure regularly in accordance with the vaccination schedule. After recovery, the patient may remain a long-term carrier of the pathogen, so the infection can spread for a long time from one source.

Get advice

If you experience these symptoms, we recommend that you make an appointment with your doctor. Timely consultation will prevent negative consequences for your health.

To learn more about the disease, prices for treatment and sign up for a consultation with a specialist, you can call:

+7 (495) 777-48-49

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Why SM-Clinic?

1

Treatment is carried out in accordance with clinical guidelines

2

Comprehensive assessment of the nature of the disease and treatment prognosis

3

Modern diagnostic equipment and own laboratory

4 900 03

High level of service and balanced pricing policy

Diagnosis of whooping cough in “SM-Clinic”

If you experience symptoms of whooping cough, you should make an appointment with an infectious disease specialist. The doctor of our clinic interviews the patient to study complaints and collects an anamnesis. A general examination is carried out, including examination of the throat, temperature measurement and listening (auscultation) of the lungs. The results of the examination may indicate the presence of a respiratory tract infection, however, to clarify the type of pathogen and exclude complications, the infectious disease specialist prescribes instrumental and laboratory tests.

Diagnostic methods in “SM-Clinic”:

• Complete blood count. The doctor orders this test to look for signs of an acute infection. In the treatment room, a specialist treats the patient’s skin in the elbow area with an antiseptic, uses a tourniquet and pierces a vein to take a small amount of blood. The detection of an increased number of leukocytes in the analysis indicates an inflammatory or infectious process in the body. A complete blood count is not a specific test for whooping cough, so the infectious disease specialist uses additional studies;
• Nasopharyngeal mucosal smear. The doctor asks the patient to open his mouth wide and, using a special swab, collects the material necessary for diagnosis. A sample of tissue and mucus is transported to the laboratory, where specialists inoculate the causative agent of the disease on a nutrient medium. Bakposev is a highly informative study that allows you to confirm the type of infectious agent and select the most effective treatment for the disease. Taking a smear is not accompanied by discomfort;
• Blood test for serological diagnosis. Special studies make it possible to detect in the blood the structures of a bacterial cell or antibodies secreted by the body to fight infection. The doctor prescribes a venous blood sampling with a test using an agglutination reaction or an indirect hemagglutination reaction. As a result, the doctor receives reliable laboratory signs of the presence of the whooping cough pathogen in the patient’s body;
• X-ray of the lungs is a standard examination that allows you to get an image of the organ. The patient is asked to undress to the waist, remove metal jewelry and stand close to the surface of the apparatus. As a result, the doctor receives images of the lungs in two projections, which are necessary to exclude pneumonia, atelectasis and other dangerous complications of whooping cough. This is a simple and painless study.

All blood and sputum tests are carried out in the SM-Clinic laboratory, equipped with modern equipment. The infectious disease specialist receives accurate diagnostic results and prescribes effective treatment as soon as possible. If necessary, an additional consultation with a neurologist, pulmonologist or other doctor is carried out to exclude less common complications of whooping cough.

Whooping cough treatment at SM-Clinic

Our clinic’s infectious disease specialist studies the diagnostic results in detail and prescribes an individual treatment regimen. Drug therapy is aimed at destroying bacteria, alleviating the inflammatory process and eliminating unpleasant symptoms. The doctor also prescribes general strengthening therapy, including diet and vitamins. Timely treatment in our clinic helps prevent the development of dangerous complications of whooping cough.

Treatment provided at SM-Clinic:

• Antimicrobial therapy. The infectious disease specialist prescribes broad-spectrum antibiotics to the patient to prevent further spread of bacteria in the body. Usually drugs of the group of macrolides or cephalosporins are prescribed, however, during the treatment, the doctor monitors the patient’s condition and, if necessary, selects other medications. The course of treatment averages one week;
• Administration of pertussis immunoglobulin. This is a tool that promotes the development of passive immunity and the destruction of bacteria. The drug is administered by injection into the gluteal muscle;
• Prescribing medicines to eliminate cough and convulsions. First of all, the infectious disease specialist prescribes antihistamines that have anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. Seizures are eliminated with the help of antispasmodics;
• Therapy to relieve the symptoms of whooping cough. If necessary, the doctor prescribes oxygen therapy to the patient. With the help of inhalation, a gas mixture with a certain oxygen content is introduced into the patient’s respiratory tract. This method of therapy is necessary to combat respiratory failure in severe whooping cough.

When prescribing a treatment regimen, the doctors of our clinic are guided by the age of the patient and the severity of the symptoms. Constant monitoring of the results of therapy allows you to achieve the most favorable prognosis.

Whooping cough prevention

Almost all infectious diseases are highly preventable. Medical recommendations aimed at preventing whooping cough are especially important in childhood, when the infection can cause the most severe complications.

Main methods of prevention:

• Routine vaccination against whooping cough at the age of 3 months.