New York health officials sound an alarm on the whooping cough outbreak in schools.
• Overview
Whooping cough (pertussis) is an endemic disease in the United States. It is a contagious disease present as a honking cough and difficulty breathing.
Turning blue or purple.
Coughing violently.
Coughing rapidly, over and over.
Not drinking enough fluids.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can easily spread from person to person. It is a highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the respiratory system. It is most dangerous for babies and young children who haven’t yet received all their vaccinations, but it can also affect older individuals and those with weakened immune systems.
• Can you get pertussis (whooping cough) after vaccination?
Vaccinated people are also affected by whooping cough, but vaccinated people may not get as sick as non-vaccinated people.
Whooping cough vaccines are effective, but not perfect. The infection is usually not as bad and mild for people who have taken vaccines against whooping cough but still get sick. In vaccinated people who get whooping cough, the cough usually won’t last as many days, and symptoms remain mild.
Introduction
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, a highly contagious, rod-shaped, gram-negative bacteria. It’s especially infectious to young children and spreads easily via droplets by cough and person-to-person contact.
Whooping cough is characterized by a severe honking cough, often ending in a “whooping” sound as a child gasps for breath.
Before the development of the vaccine, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease that mostly affected children. Now, whooping cough affects primarily children and young people who have completed vaccinations, as well as adults whose immunity has become weak. but vaccinated children don’t show the same aggressive symptoms as non-vaccinated children.
Symptoms
Whooping cough starts slowly and gradually progresses over several weeks.
Symptoms gradually increase.
Here I have given a detailed description of the symptoms according to stage.
Stage 1 (lasts for 1-2 weeks)
In stage 1 symptoms is same as common cold: symptoms include
• Runny nose with watery to sticky discharge
• Nose blocks sometimes
• occasional cough
• mild fever
• mild weakness
Symptoms show the same, like a common cold, which makes early diagnosis of whooping cough challenging.
Stage 2 (lasts for 2-4 weeks)
Patient experiences paroxysmal cough
• severe, rapid, honking-type cough followed by a high-pitched sound like “whoop” as the patient gasps for air (breathing).
Coughing fits can be triggered by various factors, like deep breath, oily food, crying, laughing, or even when a person changes positions.
• Vomiting due to excessive coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• rapid and shallow breathing that can be noticed in severe cases, especially for infants and young children.
Stage 3: Recovery stage (4-6 weeks)
In the recovery stage, the frequency and severity of coughing decrease gradually.
Some symptoms, like weakness, fever, and congestion, may persist.
Full recovery can take several weeks or even a month.
Additional symptoms:
• Cyanosis:
means bluish discoloration of the body, especially the face, lips, and tips of the fingers.
That is caused by an oxygen level deficiency and requires urgent medical attention.
• Apnea:
Means breath holding, and that is a dangerous sign, especially in infants, and it also requires urgent medical attention.
• Weight loss:due to a cough and fever, a person doesn’t feel like eating, which causes weight loss in the patient.
Remember:
• Getting diagnosed and treated promptly is crucial for preventing complications.
• If you suspect whooping cough in yourself or someone you know, seek medical attention immediately.
• Getting vaccinated is the best method to avoid whooping cough.
When to see a Doctor:
Deciding when to see a doctor can be confusing and tricky, and it depends on the severity of symptoms, the duration of symptoms, and the child’s condition.
Here I have mentioned some guidelines for basic information, but remember, this is not a substitute for doctors. Always consult your doctor if you have doubts or concerns about your or your child’s health.
✓ Immediately consult a doctor if you notice
• chest pain or difficulty breathing
• unexplained vomiting
• altered mental state
• high-grade fever (101–103°F)
• continuous coughing
• Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the body)
• sudden or severe pain
✓ Consider contacting your doctor within the next 24-48 hours if you have:
• persistent cough (longer than a week) or a cough that gets progressively worse over time, as that could be whooping cough or another respiratory infection like pneumonia.
• low-grade fever (99–100°F)
• mild cough, wet or dry
• decrease oral intake
• sleepiness
✓ For minor symptoms that seem manageable, you can usually wait a few days before seeing a doctor.
• Mild cold or flu symptoms:
Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications can often help these resolve on their own.
• Minor headache or body ache:
These may improve with pain relievers and rest.
• mild cough
Remember:
If you have any worries, be sure to talk to your doctor. That article is not a substitute for a doctor; it is just for awareness and knowledge purposes that you should be aware of.
Consulting a doctor early can help with early diagnosis and treatment so that we can be safe from complications.
I hope this information helps you make informed decisions about when to seek medical attention. Stay healthy!
Causes of whooping cough:
• Whooping cough is caused by a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.
• This infection can spread easily by coughing and sneezing and coming into contact with infected people’s droplets.
• Whooping cough is highly contagious in the early stages when symptoms are mild, even before the “whooping cough” develops.
Risk factors
Infants younger than 1 year of age who are unvaccinated or haven’t received the recommended vaccines are at the highest risk of getting infected by whooping cough bacteria.
And those also have the highest risk of complications or even death.
✓ Individual factors:
• Age:
Infants and young children are more likely to be infected with this disease, especially those who haven’t received vaccines.
• Weak immune system:
Weak immunity from an underlying health condition or medication that weakens immunity can increase the risk of getting a whooping cough infection.
✓ Social and environmental factors:
• crowded population:
Whooping cough is highly contagious, and living in a congested population can increase the risk of infection.
• exposure:
Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke or dust are more likely to contract an infection.
• Inadequate vaccination:
A community with a low vaccination rate is also more susceptible to outbreaks.
Remember
• Vaccination is a great way to prevent whooping cough and whooping cough outbreaks. Make sure every family member is up-to-date on the recommended vaccination.
• Know the symptoms of whooping cough and consult a doctor if you notice any symptoms or concerns.
• practice hygiene, frequent hand washing, Staying away from people who are infected can prevent the spread of whooping cough outbreaks.
Complications of Whooping cough
• In infants
Infants are more likely to have complications, especially under 6 months of age.
Whooping coughs are more severe and can have complications like
• Pneumonia
• Apnea: infants may experience apnea due to a severe cough, and due to apnea, oxygen significantly drops and can cause permanent damage to the brain and cyanosis.
• difficult breathing
• Cyanosis
• Brain damage
• seizure due to high-grade fever
• For adults
Teens and adults mostly recover from whooping cough without any problems. When complications occur, they tend to be side effects of the honking or severe cough, like
• cracked rib
• hernia (abdominal, femoral, umbilical, ventral)
• redness in the eyes due to broken blood vessels
Prevention
– vaccination
The most effective method for avoiding whooping cough is through vaccination.
Doctors give whooping cough vaccines in combination with two other serious diseases: diphtheria and tetanus.
The DTap and Tdap vaccines, routinely given by doctors in childhood and during pregnancy, provide protection against these diseases.
– Maintain hygiene
Frequently washing hands with soap and water and covering your mouth and nose with tissue or your elbow while coughing or sneezing helps prevent the transmission of airdrops from an infected person to a healthy person.
Other preventive measures
Limit close contact with someone who’s suffering from whooping cough.
Have a proper ventilation system in your home.
If you feel any symptoms or have any doubt, kindly visit your doctor for further evaluation.
Treatment
• Early diagnosis and, after that, antibiotics course
Once your doctor diagnosed your whooping cough by history, examination, blood tests, and swab tests,
After a confirmed diagnosis, the primary treatment for whooping cough is specific antibiotics that kill bacteria, like azithromycin, erythromycin, and clarithromycin.
These antibiotics fight against whooping cough-causing bacteria and kill them.
• Supportive treatment
– cough suppressant syrup
With the antibiotic course, your doctor will prescribe you cough suppressant medication to reduce the severity of the cough and improve sleep, especially for infants and young children.
– Fluids and electrolyte
Staying hydrated is important, as persistent coughing and vomiting can lead to dehydration.
WHO-approved ORS may also be required if needed.
– Oxygen therapy
If you are experiencing breathing difficulty, your doctor should check your oxygen level in the blood. If the oxygen level is low, then you need oxygen therapy, as oxygen therapy provides critical respiratory support.
Nutrition support:
Ensuring adequate nutrition is important for recovery, especially for those children who are eating less due to coughing.
You can give high-nutrition food, and if the child can’t take it orally, your doctor may give it by intravenous route via injection.
Hospitalization Considerations
Infants and young children: As they are more prone to complications, younger patients with severe whooping cough often require hospitalization for close monitoring and intensive care.
Individuals with certain risk factors, such as pregnant women, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those experiencing severe complications, might also need hospitalization.
