What is Pertussis?
January 7, 2009 by rainier
Pertussis, better known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis bacterium. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that most commonly affects young children, however older teens and adults are susceptible to pertussis and many do catch it because their immunity from vaccination as a child has worn off. Though pertussis poses serious health risks, it can be treated if diagnosed in early stages and closely monitored throughout.
Pertussis has an incubation period ranging from seven to as many as thirty days. The disease has three stages of development. The fist stage, which is known as the catarrhal stage, develops in the first one to two weeks and is marked by symptoms common to other upper respiratory infections. Runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, and mild cough are all early stage symptoms. Typically, because the symptoms mimic the common cold, diagnosis doesn’t come until the second stage.
During the second stage of pertussis, the lingering cough becomes gradually worse. It’s common for sufferers to experience bursts of coughing spasms triggered by the body’s failed attempts to dispel the mucus build up in the respiratory track. After coughing, inhalation is marked by a tell-tale whistling or whooping sound. Breathing can be difficult and even labored during this stage.
The final, or convalescent stage, is the recovery stage and may take an additional three to ten weeks. Coughing spasms become less frequent and breathing becomes easier, however lingering affects of pertussis can still cause some discomfort and fatigue. It is best if treatment is administered before this final stage.
Antibiotics are used to treat pertussis, and they are most effective at reducing the severity of the disease if administered during the earlier stages. Complications that can arise with pertussis, especially in young children, include further upper respiratory problems like asthma, malnutrition, and rarely seizures. The number one risk associated with pertussis is secondary bacterial pneumonia. The majority of deaths related to pertussis occur in infants and very young children. If you suspect your child has been exposed to pertussis or is exhibiting symptoms related to the disease, take them to a licensed pediatrician or family practitioner as soon as possible.
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