Whooping Cough

About Whooping Cough

• It is a highly contagious infection which impacts the respiratory tract and is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
• It gets its name from the “whooping” sound which the patient experiences while coughing.
• It is particularly severe in infants and in case of complications may lead to pneumonia and even death.
• How does whooping cough spread?
  • A person catches this bacteria via droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • It attaches itself to the throat lining and then produces toxins which damage hair-like projections which clear debris and mucus.
  • This leads to inflammation in the airways and causes severe coughing fits. It also then leads to difficulty in breathing.
• Symptoms
  • It begins with cold-like symptoms accompanied with low-grade fever. As it progresses, cough get accompanied with “whooping” sound and these spells may last for a while leading to vomiting.
  • Sleep apnea in children.

Treatment: Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines.

 Q1) What is a Vaccine? 

A preparation that is used to stimulate the body’s immune response against diseases. Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but some can be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose.

Source: Whooping cough outbreak: All you need to know about symptoms and how to stay safe

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