Things To Know About Whooping Cough
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection which is caused by the bacteria known as bordetella pertussis. This is where the name pertussis comes from, although the disease is more commonly known as whooping cough. Whooping cough, like all diseases, has numerous symptoms, treatments and ways of transmissions.
Symptoms:
Some of the symptoms of pertussis include:
These are the main symptoms of whooping cough. However, some people may find they still have a pertistent cough, but without the 'whoop', which leads to many cases being mistaken for bronchitis, bad chest colds or other respiratory infections. Pertussis is also known as 'The 100 day cough' as the symptoms can last with the victim for up to around 3 months.
Treatments:
Treatments for whooping cough are quite more complicated then other respiratory infections. If treated early enough, antibiotics are rather effective in reducing the risk of the disease spreading and making the symptoms go away quicker. However, in most cases pertussis is treated to late, so antibiotics aren't very effective in eliminating the symptoms but still reduce the patients ability to spread the disease. Other treatments that can be used include:
Prevention's
Pertussis, like most kinds of diseases, can be prevented in most cases. However, there are numerous things that we can do to reduce the risk of getting whooping cough. The obvious, most effective way of prevention of whooping cough is vaccination, which keeps you immunized to the disease for a long period of time. Other then, this other prevention's include:
Transmission:
Whooping cough is quite easily spread. It is caught via droplets from close contact from people who have whooping cough. This includes sneezing, coughing, kissing and even when you talk! Although this sounds like it is easy to catch, the age group that is most common to get whooping cough are babies are the elderly as their immune systems are weaker and bodies are more vulnerable of catching the disease. The most vulnerable to catching the disease are babies under the age of 6 months.
Symptoms:
Some of the symptoms of pertussis include:
- Flu-like symptoms (E.g Small fever, runny nose, blocked nose)
- Difficulty to breathe
- Continuous coughing
- Diarrhea
These are the main symptoms of whooping cough. However, some people may find they still have a pertistent cough, but without the 'whoop', which leads to many cases being mistaken for bronchitis, bad chest colds or other respiratory infections. Pertussis is also known as 'The 100 day cough' as the symptoms can last with the victim for up to around 3 months.
Treatments:
Treatments for whooping cough are quite more complicated then other respiratory infections. If treated early enough, antibiotics are rather effective in reducing the risk of the disease spreading and making the symptoms go away quicker. However, in most cases pertussis is treated to late, so antibiotics aren't very effective in eliminating the symptoms but still reduce the patients ability to spread the disease. Other treatments that can be used include:
- High humidity oxygen tents
- Sedatives (More for younger children)
- Fluids sent via veins (Only used in severe cases of pertussis)
Prevention's
Pertussis, like most kinds of diseases, can be prevented in most cases. However, there are numerous things that we can do to reduce the risk of getting whooping cough. The obvious, most effective way of prevention of whooping cough is vaccination, which keeps you immunized to the disease for a long period of time. Other then, this other prevention's include:
- Seeing you local doctor as soon as you think you or your child is infected
- Keeping clear of those who have whooping cough.
Transmission:
Whooping cough is quite easily spread. It is caught via droplets from close contact from people who have whooping cough. This includes sneezing, coughing, kissing and even when you talk! Although this sounds like it is easy to catch, the age group that is most common to get whooping cough are babies are the elderly as their immune systems are weaker and bodies are more vulnerable of catching the disease. The most vulnerable to catching the disease are babies under the age of 6 months.
