Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

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The bacterium Bordetella Pertussis causes Pertussis also known as the whooping-cough. This is an extremely contagious respiratory tract infection which causes the lining of the air way to become inflamed and damaged. This leads to an excess production of mucous which irritates the respiratory tract and causes the cough element of the disease. Pertussis can cause other serious illnesses and is usually spread through coughing or sneezing while in close contact with other people who then breathe in the bacteria causing disease. You can get Pertussis more than once sometimes even years apart at any age. If you have not completed the primary vaccination series you are at higher risk for severe illness. “Since the 1980’s, the number of reported Pertussis cases has gradually increased in the United States. In 2005, over 25,000 cases of Pertussis cases were reported in the United States, the highest number of reported cases since 1959. Approximately 60 percent of the cases were in adolescents and adults, a result of decreasing immunity in this population” (Department of Health, n.d.).
After you’re infected symptoms can start 4 to 21 days but usually occur between 7 to 14 days and can last 6 to 10 weeks or sometimes even longer. In young children there are 3 stages that can occur, not necessarily the same stages for older children and adults. The first stage symptoms are more like the common cold which include runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, red or watery eyes, a mild fever, and a dry cough. These symptoms can last from several days to 2 weeks and at this stage is when you are more likely to spread the disease. Stage two is when your cold symptoms will start to improve but the cough will worsen. The cough gets so uncontrollable tha...

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...ver, seizures, shock, or coma. If you are moderately or severely ill you should wait to be vaccinated until you recover. If you have ever had a life threatening allergic reaction or have received a brain or nervous system disease within 7 days after a dose of DTaP you should not get another dose. Pertussis is not a disease to take lightly regular cough medicine will not work for Pertussis. If you have a prolonged or severe cough you need to contact your doctor because it may be Pertussis.

Works Cited

Department of Health, (n.d.). Retrieved from www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/pertussis/fact_sheet.htm
A look at each vaccine, (2013) Retrieved from www.chop.edu/service/vaccine-education-center/a-look-at-each-vaccine/dtap-diphtheria-tetanus-and-pertussis-vaccine.html
Pertussis, (n.d.). Retrieved from www.immunizationinfo.org/vaccines/pertussis-whooping-cough

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