Whooping cough (whooping cough) is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
Cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, continue to increase in the United States. Nearly 18,000 cases have been reported through Oct. 5, according to new numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While this number is somewhat in line with pre-pandemic numbers, it is a significant increase. This was an increase compared to the same period last year, when the number of cases was just under 4,000.
Pertussis is an infectious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
“This is an infection that causes a lot of coughing,” says Dr. Nipnee Rajapaksa, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. “At first, you may have a runny nose, like a cold, and then it may turn into a cough.”
This infection is characterized by a violent coughing fit followed by a high-pitched, whistling breath.
“Typically, children with this disease may have a coughing fit that’s so intense that they can’t breathe. Then, after the cough is over, they take a deep breath to catch their breath. “You hear a whistling sound,” says Dr. Rajapaksa.
Early symptoms of whooping cough
Runny nose, stuffy nose, red and watery eyes, fever, and cough.
Late symptoms of whooping cough
Vomiting during or after a coughing attack. Difficulty breathing. Exhaustion or exhaustion. It ends with a high-pitched “whoosh” sound during the next breath.
Not all infected people develop whooping cough, and infants may not cough at all. In fact, breathing may become difficult or even stop temporarily.
Bordetella pertussis produces toxins that inflame the airways.
When should you see a doctor?
Difficulty breathing. My face turns blue and my purpose becomes clear. Coughing violently or rapidly. Not drinking enough water.
People of all ages can become infected. However, whooping cough is especially dangerous for infants, especially those under 6 months of age. It can cause severe breathing problems and may require hospitalization.
prevention
Whooping cough is a vaccine-preventable disease. “Thankfully, this is an infectious disease that can be vaccinated against,” Dr. Rajapaksa said.
There are two types of vaccines available:
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) This vaccine is for children under 7 years of age.
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) This vaccine is for older children and adults (including pregnant women).
Tdap is recommended to pregnant women during each pregnancy to provide early protection for the baby from whooping cough. This is very important because the first few months of life are at greatest risk for serious illness and infants do not receive their first dose of pertussis vaccine until they are 2 months old.
Dr. Rajapaksa says it’s important to ensure that anyone who has close contact with newborns and young children, such as parents, grandparents and caregivers, is up to date on the whooping cough vaccine.
Practicing good hand hygiene also helps reduce the spread of respiratory infections.
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