Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the lungs and respiratory tract that is easily transmitted. Pertussis can be deadly if it affects the elderly and babies who have not received the pertussis vaccine.

Pertussis is characterized by a persistent loud cough that begins with a deep breath through the mouth (whoop). A person can have whooping cough for 3 months or commonly known as a hundred days cough.

Whooping cough can make sufferers lack oxygen in the blood and develop complications of pneumonia. In certain cases, the sufferer's ribs were injured due to a very hard cough. Pertussis can spread quickly, so a vaccine is needed to prevent transmission. The bacteria are spread through the discharge when you cough or sneeze.

Symptoms.

Pertussis symptoms will appear between 7-21 days after the bordetella pertussis bacteria enter the respiratory tract.

The first stage (early symptoms) ➡

Mild symptoms :

• Runny and stuffy nose.
• Sneezing.
• Watery eyes.
• Sore throat.
• Cough lightly.
• Fever.

This stage can last up to two weeks and at this stage the patient is at risk of transmitting it to those around him.

The second stage (paroxysmal period) ➡

Symptoms :

• The flu symptoms subsided, but the cough got worse.

This stage occurs with a continuous loud cough that begins with a deep breath through the mouth (whoop). After a coughing attack, the sufferer vomits until he feels tired. This stage lasts > 2-4 weeks.

The third stage (healing period) ➡

Symptoms :

• The body starts to improve.
• Symptoms of whooping cough persist or are even more severe.
• The recovery phase lasts up to two months or more, depending on treatment.

Conditions that require immediate help :

• Infants aged 0-6 months who look unwell.
• Sufferers have difficulty breathing.
• Seizures.
• Pneumonia.
• Make a sound when you inhale.
• Throw up.
• Red or blue body.

Cause.

Bordetella pertussis bacteria spreads through the air and then enters and attacks the walls of the airways and releases toxins. The body experiences swelling of the airways due to a toxic reaction released by bacteria. The swollen airway causes the patient to take a strong breath through the mouth. This inhalation produces a long sound.

The body's reaction when bacteria infect the walls of the airways is to produce thick mucus, then the respiratory tract responds to secrete thick mucus by coughing.

Diagnosis.

• Listening to the resulting cough sound.
• Blood test.
• Taking a mucus sample from the nose or throat.
• X-ray of the lungs.

Treatment.

Treatment of pertussis in infants and children ➡

• Antibiotics to fight infection-causing bacteria.
• Corticosteroids to treat inflammation of the airways.
• Oxygen to aid in breathing.
• Use of breathing aids and drugs to control blood pressure.
• In severe conditions, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation will be carried out: oxygen is directly flowed to the body without passing through the lungs.

Treatment of pertussis in adolescents and adults ➡

• Antibiotics to treat infections.
• Ibuprofen and paracetamol for fever and sore throat.
• Drink lots of water to avoid dehydration.
• Remove all mucus when coughing.
• Rest your body.

Prevention of transmission risk :

• Placed in an isolation room to avoid spreading infection.
• Take antibiotics 5 days before activity.
• Covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
• Wash your hands with soap.

Complications.

• Dehydration and weight loss.
• Pneumonia.
• Low blood pressure.
• Seizures.
• Brain damage due to lack of oxygen flow to the brain.
• Kidney failure.
• Bruised or cracked ribs.
• Abdominal hernia.
• Nosebleed.
• Ear infection.
• Rupture of blood vessels in the skin or eyes.
• Thrush on the tongue and mouth.
• Swollen face.

Prevention.

The pertussis vaccination is a way to prevent whooping cough. The pertussis vaccine will be given together with the diphtheria, tetanus, polio and Hepatitis B vaccines.

Pertussis vaccination schedule:

• At 2 months years old. 
• At 4 months years old. 
• At 6 months years old. 
• At 1,5-2 years old.
• At 5 years old.

Pertussis vaccine side effects :

• Pain.
• Red skin.
• Swelling at the injection site.
• Fever.

Pregnant women also need to get pertussis vaccination to protect their baby from catching whooping cough in the first week of birth.

The immunity of the pertussis vaccine will weaken at the age of 11 years, so it is necessary to do a booster for pertussis vaccination. Tetanus and diphtheria vaccines every 10 years can also prevent pertussis infection.