Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

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In my last article, ” Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Croup” we learned that Croup is a respiratory illness that is usually caused by a virus. As this progresses, the trachea becomes swollen which narrows the space available for the air to get to the lungs. The viruses spread easily through coughing, sneezing and saliva. Children who do have croup are contagious for three days after the symptoms begin or until the fever is gone. In most cases Croup is usually mild but there are cases for the symptoms to become more severe. Today I would like to move onto another childhood disease, Pertussis.

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What Is Pertussis?

Pertussis otherwise known as Whooping Cough is a very contagious disease that can affect individuals at all ages. According to Kern Public Health (http://kernpublichealth.com/pertussis-whooping-cough) pertussis is caused by “a bacterium, Bordetella pertussis, and is spread through the air by respiratory droplets from a person coughing or sneezing.” In many cases the person with pertussis can have severe coughing attacks for months. It is especially dangerous for infants who are too young for the vaccination, so this can potentially expose them to a life-threatening problem related to pertussis.

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What Are the Symptoms of Whooping Cough?

Healthline stated that the “incubation period for whooping cough is about 10 days but symptom might not appear for as long as 3 weeks.” Early symptoms are like the common cold which include a runny nose, cough and fever. Within two weeks, a dry persistent cough develops making breathing for the individual very difficult. Whooping Cough got its name from the sound infants and children make when they try to take a breath after each coughing spell.

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Per Healthline the severe cough can cause the following:

• Vomiting

• Blue or purple skin around the mouth

• Dehydration

• Low-grade fever

• Breathing difficulties

If these things occur, you should call the doctor.

It should be noted that teens and adults usually have milder symptoms as compared to the infant and child. They don’t have the “whoop” sound after a prolonged coughing spell.

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Who Is At Risk?

Whooping Cough is thought to be on the rise for two main reasons according to the Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whooping-cough/basics/risk-factors/con-20023295?p=1). The whooping cough vaccine you receive when you were a child eventually wears off. Because of this, many teenagers and adults can be susceptible to the infection during an outbreak. In addition to this, children who receive the vaccine aren’t fully immune until they have received at least three shots which in essence leaves those 6 months and younger at a greater risk of contracting whooping couch.

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How To Prevent Whooping Cough?

According to Parents (http://www.parents.com/baby/health/cough/whooping-cough) the best way to prevent whooping cough is getting vaccinated. In the US the whooping cough vaccine is part of a recommended immunization schedule for children. Parents stated, “Children should be given the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine at least five times (three times each at 2, 4, 6 months, once between 15 and 18 months, and once between 4 and 6 years old). Teens, beginning at 11 to 12 years of age, and adults can receive a whooping cough vaccine called Tdap.”

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How Whooping Cough Is Diagnosed

The doctor will perform a physical exam and then take samples of mucus in the nose and throat. These samples will be tested for the presence of the B. pertussis bacteria according to Healthline. A blood test may also be conducted to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

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Treatment For Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is usually treated with antibiotics if caught early. Many believe that antibiotics can actually shorten the length of the infection. But it must be given in the first stage of whooping cough before the coughing spell begins. Unfortunately many parents don’t bring their child in early enough. But experts feel that antibiotics are important to help stop the spread of the pertussis infection to others.

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Some children with whooping cough will need to be treated in the hospital because they will be at a greater risk for pneumonia. Any child younger than 6 months will also be hospitalized because of their more fragile state. Apnea, Oxygen needs, Breathing Difficulties and Dehydration are all possible complications requiring hospitalization. According to Kids Health (http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/whooping-cough.html#) in the hospital, the child can be suctioned to clear the airways, receive oxygen as needed, get IV fluids to prevent dehydration or if he/she has difficulty eating.

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Home Care Treatment For Whooping Cough

Kids Health suggests that if your child is being treated at home, you should follow the schedule for giving antibiotics as prescribed. Some physicians prescribe cough medication but it will probably not be effective since the coughing spells of whooping cough is the body’s way of trying to clear the airways. Kids Health also stated that because of the potential side effects of cough medicines, children under 6 years old are never prescribed it.

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The article went on to recommend that parents should “allow the child to rest in bed and to use a cool mist vaporizer to help soothe irritated lungs and breathing passages. And keep your home free of irritants that can trigger coughing spells, such as aerosol sprays; tobacco smoke; and smoke from cooking, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves.”

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Because kids with whooping cough may vomit or not eat, it is recommended that meals are frequent and smaller. Encouraging water intake is important. It is not uncommon for the child to get dehydrated so parents should watch out for signs of it including “thirst, irritability, restlessness, lethargy, sunken eyes, dry mouth & tongue, dry skin, crying without tears and less trips to the bathroom” to urinate.

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Possible Complications of Whooping Cough

According to HealthLine infants with whooping cough require close monitoring to avoid potentially dangerous complications due to lack of oxygen. Here is a list of possible complications:

• Brain damage

• Pneumonia

• Seizures

• Bleeding in the brain

• Apnea (slowed or stopped breathing)

• Convulsions (uncontrollable, rapid shaking)

• Death

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Some Interesting Facts About Pertussis?

According to the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/fast-facts.html) the following are a list of some facts about Pertussis:

• Pertussis is also known as “whooping cough” because of the “whooping” sound that someone makes when gasping for air after a fit of coughing.

• Coughing fits due to pertussis infection can last for up to 10 weeks or more; some people know this disease as the “100 day cough.”

• Pertussis can cause serious illness in people of all ages and can even be life-threatening, especially in babies.

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• Approximately half of babies less than 1 year old who get pertussis need treatment in the hospital.

• The most effective way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination with DTaP for babies and children and with Tdap for preteens, teens, and adults.

• Vaccination of pregnant women with Tdap is especially important to help protect babies.

• Vaccinated children and adults can become infected with and spread pertussis; however, disease is typically much less serious in vaccinated people.

• Clinicians generally treat pertussis with antibiotics, which are used to control symptoms and to prevent infected people from spreading the disease.

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• Worldwide, there are an estimated 24.1 million cases of pertussis and about 160,700 deaths per year, according to a recent publication modeling these data.

• In 2012, the most recent peak year, CDC reported 48,277 cases of pertussis in the United States, but many more go undiagnosed and unreported. This is the largest number of cases reported in the United States since 1955 when public health experts reported 62,786 cases.

• Since the 1980s, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of pertussis in the United States. In 2010, CDC saw an increase in reported cases among 7 through 10 year olds. Similar trends occurred in the following years; however, CDC also observed an increase in cases among teens.

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As you can see, Pertussis and/or Whooping Cough is a very serious respiratory infection that can be very dangerous for babies who have not been vaccinated. It is caused by the bacteria Bordetella Pertussis which is easily spread by sneezing, coughing and direct contact. Incubation period can last 5 -21 days but in general is about a week. The disease starts with cold-like symptoms followed by a more pronounced and frequent coughing fit. If your child is under 6 months, you should not hesitate to contact the physician right away because there are many complications that can occur.

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According to Heathline symptoms of whooping cough can last up to four weeks or longer. Children and adults tend to recover quickly with early medical intervention. Infants are at the highest risk for cough-related deaths. Again, if your child is less than 6 months, please don’t hesitate to seek medical help!

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I hope you learned something from this article about Pertussis (Whooping Cough). There are many resources on the internet if you need more specific information. I will continue this series with another childhood disease post. I hope you will continue to join me in this quest to learn about these illnesses that children usually encounter when they are young. Thank-you for reading my article on Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Pertussis (Whooping Cough). If you would like to follow me, please check HERE

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