Definition
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In advanced stages, it's marked a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop"
In the first half of the 20th century, whooping cough was a leading cause of childhood illness and death in the United States. But after the introduction of a vaccine, the number of cases gradually declined, reaching a low in the mid-1970s.
Since then, however, the incidence of whooping cough has been increasing, primarily among children too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations and teenagers and adults whose immunity has faded.
CAUSES;
Whooping cough is caused by
bacteria. When an infected person
coughs or
sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed into the air and breathed into the lungs of anyone who happens to be nearby.
Once inside your airways, the bacteria multiply and produce toxins that interfere with your respiratory tract's ability to sweep away germs. Thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable coughing.
The bacteria also cause inflammation that narrows breathing tubes in your lungs. This narrowing leaves you gasping for air - sucking in
air with a high-pitched "whoop" - after a fit of coughing.[NDIO MAANA uKAITWA HIVYO]
Risk factors;
Whooping cough is thought to be on the rise for two main reasons. The whooping cough vaccine you receive as a child eventually wears off, leaving most teenagers and adults susceptible to the infection during an outbreak - and there continue to be regular outbreaks. In addition, children aren't fully immune to whooping cough until they've received at least three shots, leaving those 6 months and younger at greatest risk of contracting the infection.
Symptoms
Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes three to 12 days for signs and symptoms to appear. They're usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Sneezing
- Red, watery eyes
- A mild fever
- Dry cough
After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:
- Bring up thick phlegm
- Provoke vomiting
- Result in a red or blue face
- Cause extreme fatigue
- End with a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath of air
However, many people - particularly infants,
adolescents and adults - don't develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an
adolescent or adult has whooping cough.
Diagnosis;A doctor considers the following when making a preliminary diagnosis of whooping cough
CLINICAL PRESENTATION
Recently reported cold symptoms and a dry, hacking cough that progresses to bursts of uncontrollable, often violent coughing that may make it temporarily impossible to breathe. The characteristic whooping noise sometimes occurs when the person tries to inhale quickly through airways narrowed by inflammation.
Babies may have flushed cheeks[haya mashavu mekundu nikwa wazungu zaidi waswhili labda weupe], a pale or bluish complexion[kwenye lip ya mdomo] due to the lack of oxygen, and bulging or watery eyes
A baby may also stick out his or her tongue, [anaongeza wigo wa njia ya kupumulia mdomo usaidiane na pua]
Immunization status. An important consideration when making a preliminary diagnosis of whooping cough (pertussis) is whether a person's immunizations against pertussis are up to date.
Community outbreaks. Whooping cough may be suspected when other cases of whooping cough have recently been reported within the local community
Treatment will usually start right away if your doctor strongly suspects whooping cough as a cause of your symptoms,from the above stated
CULTURE;Doctors can diagnose whooping cough by testing mucusfrom the nasopharynx region.It is the most accurate method, but it takes 10 to 14 days to get the results.
.
LABARATORY;
- A complete blood count or other blood tests may be done to help rule out other diseases.
- Chest X-rays may be done, especially in infants. Although X-rays images often appear normal in whooping cough, they may be needed to rule out other possible causes of symptoms or to find out whether complications, such as pneumonia, have developed.
- A pulse oximeter may be used to check the blood oxygen levels, which helps a doctor monitor how well the lungs are working and decide what treatments to use.
Treatments and drugs
Infants are typically hospitalized for treatment, because whooping cough is more dangerous for that age group. If your child can't keep down liquids or food, intravenous fluids may be necessary. In some cases, prescription sedatives will help your child rest. Your child will also be isolated from others to prevent the infection from spreading.
Treatment for older children and adults usually can be managed at home.
Medications
- Antibiotics. Antibiotics kill the bacteria causing whooping cough and help speed recovery. Family members may be given preventive antibiotics.
- Cough relief. Unfortunately, not much is available to relieve the cough. Over-the-counter cough medicines, for instance, have little effect on whooping cough and are discouraged.
- breathing comfort can be increased by using a humidifier and getting enough fluids.