Whooping-Cough

Whooping Cough

Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection that causes severe chained coughs. With time, these coughs become so severe that the patient is hardly able to breathe between the coughs. That’s the reason why people suffering from this make a ‘whooping’ sound so gasp air during coughs, hence the name ‘whooping cough’.
Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria (scientific name: Bordetella Pertussis). The condition starts with a normal cold and proceeds to serious coughing. This series of prolonged and extreme coughs can cause serious health issues which sometimes can be life-threatening.
Whooping-Cough

Symptoms

During the start of the whooping cough session, also known as Phase – I, a person can expect mild symptoms, similar to the common cold ones. These symptoms can last a week or two and may include:

  • Slight fever
  • Runny nose
  • Mild coughing
  • Breathing pauses

Phase – II starts after two weeks when coughing starts to intensify. These whooping cough symptoms in adults include:

  • Prolonged coughs
  • Repeated coughs
  • Violent coughs
  • Loud coughs
  • “Whooping” sound between coughs

With amplified coughing, patients can also experience other health issues like:

  • Vomiting
  • Dehydration
  • Hernia (in some cases)
  • Exhaustion
  • Ear Infections
  • Breathing problems
These symptoms peak at week 3 and week 4, and then slowly start reducing after week 4. However, minimal bouts of coughs can occur even after the patient is cured of whooping cough (and it may last for a few months).

Causes and Transmission

It’s easy for whooping cough disease to spread from one person to another. It is highly contagious and usually the person who carries this disease can affect anyone almost instantly.
As mentioned, whooping cough spreads through a bacteria (Bordetella Pertussis). Here’s the step-by-step process of how whooping cough starts:

  • The bacteria (Bordetella Pertussis) enters your respiratory system
  • It attaches to tiny hairs (cilia) present in the respiratory tract
  • It then releases harmful toxins that damage cilia
  • Toxin chemical makes airways to swell, decreasing air passageway
  • Swelling also causes excessive mucus production, which ultimately leads to whopping coughs
If you suffer from whooping cough, it’s best to minimize contact with other people since it is highly contagious in the first 3 weeks. You can also start taking medications and antibiotics to reduce pain and contagious risks. However, it’s best to take meds after week 2. Vaccination against Bordetella Pertussis bacteria also remains fruitful in lowering the risks of whooping cough.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Once you realize the presence of whooping cough, you should rush to the nearest hospital and seek immediate medical care. If the coughs are so severe that you cannot focus on driving your own vehicle properly, it’s best to call an ambulance in order to assist you with the journey to the hospital. If your child starts showing symptoms of whooping cough, difficulty in breathing, or even any change in physical conditions. It’s best to rush to the hospital as well.
Most of the time, whooping cough diagnosis is done through its prominent symptoms. However, a physical examination and a series of tests are conducted to confirm any doubts and get the disease on patient records. There are a variety of tests, including blood tests and cotton swab tests, for checking whooping cough. The samples are collected and then sent to the lab for further tests to make sure the speculations are true. Once the results are in, the patient (most probably) gets hospitalized for further treatment until they’re healthy again. Whooping cough treatment can be started off with antibiotics since it is a bacterial infection. A patient can get rid of the infection, however, the cough can last for up to a few weeks.
Whooping-Cough

Prevention

As whooping cough is a highly contagious infection, it’s best to keep yourself safe all the time. Always keep a hand sanitizer in your pocket and make sure to use face masks when in contact with a potential infection carrier.

The first and foremost step for whooping cough prevention is through proper vaccination. The pertussis vaccine can help you save yourself and your loved ones from whooping cough. For infants, there is a series of vaccinations that they must go through for whooping cough prevention. If you haven’t been vaccinated or didn’t get any booster shots in the last 5 years, it's best to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Regular checkups with your doctors and healthcare consultants can also help you stay up-to-date with whooping cough. Catching the infection in its early stages can help you eliminate it without getting severe. Good hygiene practices also help you stay safe and sound from whooping cough.

Conclusion:

Whooping cough is a contagious infection. This means you’ll never know when you can come in contact with an infected person and get one for yourself. Since it can last for weeks (if not months), it’s best to avoid risky encounters altogether. If you are a practitioner who deals with whooping cough patients like clockwork, it’s best to keep yourself safe and protected all the time. Since they take up to a few weeks to recover, they have no choice but to stay in the hospital for complete recovery. This is where your administrative tasks get out of control. With MaxRemind healthcare services, you won’t be worrying about handling whooping cough patients while juggling administrative tasks. With 20+ years in the healthcare industry, MaxRemind facilitates your facility with an unmatched team of experts to help you with your healthcare duties.

FAQs
What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory infection that causes a series of cough sessions. Starting from a normal cold, whooping cough can intensify in 1-2 weeks and last 4-6 weeks.

What is the cause of whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a contagious infection which is caused by a bacteria (scientific name: Bordetella Pertussis). This bacteria travels through the air and spreads from person to person.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

Initial whooping cough symptoms in children and adults are similar to the common cold. The starting symptoms include fever, runny nose, and breathing pauses. The symptoms get severe with time, which include violent coughs, dehydration, chest pain, ear infections, and much more.

How to diagnose whooping cough?

Whooping cough diagnosis can be done through its unique and distinguished symptoms. However, proper lab tests are mandatory to confirm the condition and to put it in the records. Various tests like cotton swab tests and blood tests are useful for whooping cough diagnosis, according to the patient's specific condition.

Which cough vaccine is used for whooping cough treatment?

One of the best ways to whooping cough treatment is to get properly vaccinated in time. The pertussis vaccine can help you in whooping cough prevention. Infants require a series of vaccinations. However, adults require a one-time vaccination and a booster shot every 5 years.