Whooping cough is the common name given to pertussis. It is one of the most contagious respiratory infections and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Despite its high potential to cause illness, the disease still poses a critical threat to public health worldwide because of its strong contagious potential among infants and those who do not get vaccinated. The cause of the name of the disease being derived from the “whoop” spasm taken by an individual-specially an infant-while experiencing severe fits of coughing.
In this article, we are going to discuss what whooping cough is, its symptoms, how it spreads and the methods of prevention and treatment.
What Is Whooping Cough?
This is a disease that typically occurs during childhood, but, like all diseases, it does not discriminate and can affect the majority of ages. This disease spreads when a sneeze or cough of an infected person reaches another person through respiratory droplets. The bacteria attach themselves to the lining of the upper respiratory system, causing the toxins that are released to create inflammation and damage inside the airways. Due to this, there is a coughing spasm that is the classic characteristic of the disease.
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Symptoms of Whooping Cough
Symptoms of whooping cough are often developed in stages and may seem to initially resemble the common cold. The stages of whooping cough include
1. The Catarrhal Stage or Early Symptoms:
Mild coughing
Runny nose
Mild fever
Sneezing
Watery eyes
These early symptoms last about one to two weeks and are mostly misdiagnosed as another common cold or respiratory infection.
- Paroxysmal Stage (Severe Coughing Fits):
The paroxysmal stage is more aggressive and occurs after the initial stage. The stage starts with loud coughing fits, which may last several minutes at times and become even more common at night. The hallmark of this stage is that it has a “whooping” sound created during a gasp for air after a fit. Other symptoms presented include:
Violent episodes of coughing
Vomiting after episodes of coughing
- Feeling tired after coughing
Being strangled to stop
The stage can be from two to six weeks or longer.
3. Convalescent Stage (Recovery):
The final stage is marked by the overall subsidence of frequency and severity of cough. Recovery is usually slow and the cough may take weeks or even months to heal.
Complications
Most recently, whooping cough poses severe hazards to infants under six months old because they could suffer from the following complications:
- Pneumonia
- Seizure
- Brain damage
- Dehydration
- Respiratory failure
The disease is sometimes fatal, more so in younger babies before one has undergone full immunization.
How Whooping Cough Spreads
The illness whooping cough is very contagious, thus easily spread from one individual to another. It is transmitted through droplets suspended in the air, primarily during an infection coughing, sneezing, or even talking. Contact with the infected person increases the risk greatly.
Individuals are typically most contagious when they are first infected and may be before they even know they have whooping cough.
Prevention: The Role of Vaccination
Vaccination is the best means of preventing whooping cough. DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) are administered to a child in intervals, beginning at 2 months. Boosters, through administration of Tdap vaccine, are recommended for teenagers, adults, and older children who may have developed a decline in immunity over time.
Vaccination is accompanied by other preventive measures that can minimize the spread of the disease. These include the following:
Good hand hygiene
Covering mouth and nose with a tissue or the upper arm when coughing or sneezing as well as
Avoid close contact with infected people .
Some Treatment Options
Early antibiotic therapy can sometimes reduce the severity and duration of whooping cough, especially in the early stages of the infection. It will also lead to preventing the spread of the infection to others. It might also help only at the later stages of the disease, particularly when it has already progressed to the coughing phase of the illness.
However, when the condition is already severe especially among young babies, usually a hospital stay would be recommended close monitoring of the breathing and giving supplementary care through oxygen therapy or intravenous fluids may also be needed.
Way Forward
Whooping cough ranks among the most dangerous respiratory diseases when it affects infants and vulnerable populations. It may begin with such mild symptoms that it easily presents as a common cold, and by the time the full attack of coughing begins, extreme complications can occur. Vaccination offers the best protection both for individuals and for the community at large. Proper immunization, early diagnosis, and treatment can significantly curb the damaging effects of whooping cough, thus ensuring healthier communities for all.
Stay informed, protect yourself, as well as keep your family abreast of their vaccination to help curb the spread of this deadly disease.
