Whooping Cough: Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF WHOOPING COUGH?
A Cough lasting more than two weeks Cough that may have started with runny nose or cold-like symptoms Cough that occurs in fits or spasms, coughing fits accompanied by difficulty breathing, or coughs that cause gagging or vomiting Usually there is little or no fever 2)
What is Pertussis or Whooping Cough?
Pertussis is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is a very distressing condition, which may cause serious trouble in the lungs and more severe complications. The disease appears to have no distinct seasonal pattern, but may increase during summer and fall.
Source: www.erie.gov
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious disease marked by severe coughing. It is named after the "whoop" sound children and adults sometimes make when they try to breathe in during or after a severe coughing spell. back to top What are the Symptoms? Whooping cough usually starts with cold- or flu-like symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, fever, and a mild cough. These symptoms can last up to 2 weeks and are followed by increasingly severe coughing spells. Fever, if present, is usually mild. ...
Source: www.pertussis.com
IS THERE A VACCINE FOR WHOOPING COUGH (PERTUSSIS)?
A Yes. The CDC recommends children receive 5 doses of pertussis vaccine between the ages of 2 months and 6 years. One booster dose is also given at age 11 before child enters 6th grade. One booster dose is also recommended for adults.
What is the medical treatment for whooping cough?
The medical management of pertussis cases is primarily supportive, although antibiotics are of some value. Erythromycin is the drug of choice. This therapy eradicates the organism from secretions, thereby decreasing communicability and, if initiated early, may modify the course of the illness. Erythromycin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis should be administered for 14 days to all household and other close contacts of persons with pertussis, regardless of age and vaccination status. ...
Source: www.erie.gov
What causes pertussis or whooping cough?
Pertussis or Whooping cough is highly contagious, caused by rod-shaped bacilli, Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella Para-pertussis. Of these, the first one gives rise to more severe infections. It is also associated with various adenoviruses, Para-influenza and respiratory viruses.
Source: www.erie.gov
How is whooping cough or pertussis spread?
It spreads rapidly from one person to another through droplets emitted by coughing (both direct and airborne droplets of respiratory secretions) This is especially so during the catarrhal stage and the first two weeks of the paroxysmal stage (approx. 21 days).
Source: www.erie.gov
Who is most at risk for pertussis or whooping cough?
A new born infant has no immunity to whooping cough, and can get it any time after birth if they are not immunized. Most cases of whooping cough occur in children under five years of age. In some cases, older children and adults may also be affected. Young infants are at the highest risk for acquiring clinical pertussis, and for associated complications (for more on complications see http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/pert.pdf ). ...
Source: www.erie.gov
Why do we vaccinate against pertussis (also called “whooping cough”)?
Pertussis is a bacterial respiratory illness characterized by severe spasms of coughing that can last for several weeks or even for months. Pertussis is usually spread from person-to-person through close contact with respiratory droplets released when a person coughs or sneezes. Before the introduction of vaccination in the 1940s, pertussis was a major cause of serious illness and death among infants and young children in the United States.
Source: www.cdc.gov
What is whooping cough? What are its causes and symptoms and ailments?
When the patient coughs constantly with a sound like 'whoop' while breathing or coughing, the symptoms are of Whooping cough. Whooping cough is the common name of Pertussis. This type of coughing is transmittable and can cause even death. This normally occur in infants and young children but less in adults. The treatment of whooping cough can only be shortened in the early stage of coughing with an antibiotic but can't alter the outcome of the disease. ...
Source: coldcough.blogspot.com
Should we be concerned about "whooping cough"?
"Whooping cough", or Pertussis, can affect children, adolescents, and adults, and present with severe coughing spells that can last for weeks or even months. The illness is frequently misdiagnosed, as it may be confused with other respiratory conditions. There has been a twelve fold increase in reported cases since the 1980's and the number of cases reported in 2004 was double those in 2003, with the highest incidence occuring in the 10-19 years old range. ...
Source: www.thecoughcenter.com
Are there other things that can be done to treat a person with whooping cough (Pertussis)?
Good nursing care is essential to the treatment of whooping cough. The patient should be isolated from others and kept in a well-ventilated room. They should wear loose clothes and must be given plenty of liquids in between the attacks of coughing. Orange juice is especially beneficial. It can be given diluted with warm water (50:50). When the convalescent stage has been reached, the patient should be encouraged to spend as much time as possible outdoors.
Source: www.erie.gov
Have there been cases of whooping cough and mumps in children who received these vaccinations?
Vaccines have caused serious side effects and the disease itself in some children. Other vaccines, such as chickenpox, are only partially effective, and must be retaken every few years.
Source: www.conservapedia.com
(vi) Should adults receive pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine boosters?
An acellular pertussis vaccine (combined with tetanus and diphtheria antigens) is now available for adolescents and adults (dTpa, or Boostrix). This vaccine should not be given as a primary vaccination series against pertussis; further, no recommendations about additional booster doses using adult/adolescent formulation dTpa can be made at this time. ...
Source: www.nevdgp.org.au
Will the program provide for normal childhood illnesses such as Chickenpox, Diphtheria, German Measles, Mumps, Scarlet Fever and Whooping Cough?
Yes, as long as the child has been enrolled with us. You will need to inform us of any new births - full name and date of birth, etc., within 45 days.
Source: www.talent-trust.com
Dear Dr J. Does whooping cough cause any long term lung damage?
Hardly ever nowadays, in all probability. It is very difficult to know for sure though. It used to be thought it was a cause of bronchiectasis. This might have true in the past but probably not now. To cause lung damage it would probably have to cause pneumonia first.
Source: www.whoopingcough.net
Dear Dr J. I have heard that whooping cough vaccine can cause brain damage. Is it true?
NOT true. In the 1970s people thought it might be true of the old type vaccine used then, but research done at the time showed it not to be true. The question was asked about the old whole cell vaccine. In the developed world we now use acellular vaccine which is much better than the old vaccine anyway and does not cause any kind of damage.
Source: www.whoopingcough.net
Dear Dr J. Can I get whooping cough more than once?
Yes. But if you get the natural infection you should be unable to get it again for decades as natural immunity seems to last a long time. Quite a lot of adults with it tell me they had it as a child. Many people tell me they get a choking cough that sounds like whooping cough every year. I am sure that cannot be whooping cough.
Source: www.whoopingcough.net
Isn't it really dangerous if a person, especially a child, gets any of these communicable diseases, like whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and polio?
Most of the time, no. Like any acute illness, they can cause a good deal of discomfort. With proper care, the person makes a full recovery. It is interesting to note that the death rate due to these diseases began their decline before vaccines were introduced.
Source: www.momvaccines.org
Does the whooping cough vaccine cause brain damage?
In the 1970s a study was done which seemed to show a link between the whooping cough vaccine and a few babies who suffered brain damage. However, these findings have not been supported by more recent studies. The actual whooping cough disease can cause brain damage. Between 1975 and 1985, there was concern about the whooping cough vaccine caused by the above study. This lead to thousands of babies not being immunised. As a result, three epidemics occurred and more than 100,000 people caught the disease. ...
Source: thebabyregister.co.uk
Dear Dr J. Every year I get a cough which sounds just like the cough on your site. Could this be whooping cough?
You only get it once (for practical purposes)
Source: www.whoopingcough.net
Haven't vaccines been responsible for reducing the number of cases of communicable diseases, like whooping cough, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, and polio?
There is no doubt that vaccines have helped to reduce the incidence of reported cases of these diseases in recent years. Better education, improved sanitation, better nutrition, and use of antibiotics have also played important roles.
Source: www.momvaccines.org
Dear Dr J. I have had fever and a bad cough that is making me choke for 4 days now . I sound just like the recording. Is this whooping cough?
I haven't a clue! Probably not. Whooping cough starts as an ordinary cough that gradually becomes choking over a week, or often more. I only diagnose whooping cough if somebody has a typical choking cough for three weeks. You can ask me again in 3 weeks if you like, but by then you probably won't need to!
Source: www.whoopingcough.net
I had newborn twin babies and are just four months old. I want to know that what to do as they both are suffering from whooping cough/chronic? Is there anything to worry?
I suggest you to take your twin babies to the paediatrician. He will tell you that is this simple cough or signs of pneumonia etc after doing complete checkup of them. Then he will medicate them accordingly.
Source: coldcough.blogspot.com
(ii) Diseases like measles, polio, whooping cough and diphtheria have already disappeared from most parts of Australia. Why do we need to keep vaccinating children against these diseases?
These diseases are much less common now, but the bacteria and viruses that cause them are still present. The potential problem is kept in check by routine vaccination programs. In countries where vaccination rates have declined, vaccine preventable diseases have sometimes reappeared. For example, Holland has one of the highest rates of fully vaccinated people in the world. ...
Source: www.nevdgp.org.au
