Bacterial condition where one has a persistent cough and also have moments of intense coughing followed by a ‘whooping noise’.
This occurs because the bacteria cause swelling in the airways making it narrower causing breathing difficulties and the whooping noise (though not always).
Moments of intense coughing can last up to two minutes and one can have several bouts in quick succession, it can be up to 12-15 bouts each day.
It can take up to three months to make a full recovery.
It is highly contagious and persons should not go out or children go to school until they have completed a course of antibiotics and/or had intense moments of coughing for three weeks.
Persons with a weak immune system, who are overweight and those not up to date with their vaccination are especially vulnerable to this condition.
This condition can affect adults as well as babies and children.
Countries where outbreaks have occurred (though can occur anywhere):
North America
Canada
Mexico
United States of America (Alaska, Hawaii, Oahu, Maui)
Please make sure all persons are up to date with their vaccinations as well as if one has contact with children (make sure their vaccinations are up to date).
Contagious
A person with whooping cough can pass it to others as soon as they get cold-like symptoms. They can also pass it up to 3 weeks after they start coughing. If the infected person takes an appropriate antibiotic, they will not spread the germ after 5 full days of treatment. New York state Department of Health (.gov)
Cause
Bacteria: Bordetella pertussis
Bacteria grow in the lining of one’s airways and can be spread by:
Other infected person via sneezing and coughing
Air droplets
Source: outbreaknewstoday
Source: http://www.differencebetween.net/
Symptoms
First one or two weeks (catarrhal phase):
Low grade fever?
Initially a persistent dry cough which has now become a chesty cough with yellow/green and/or blood stained phlegm?
Runny nose, congestion cold for up to three weeks or not cleared by over the counter medication?
Sore throat longer than seven days or more?
Watery eyes?
Then two to four weeks and it then clams down for another one or two weeks (paroxysmal phase):
Dry cough longer than three weeks and/or breathing difficulties?
Babies may have a pause in breathing?
A ‘whooping sound’ with each sharp intake of air after coughing?
Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
Sneezing?
General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Balance and dizziness problems?
Ear infection (earache longer than four days) or an ear discharge?
Nose bleeds (sudden increase in the pressure within the blood vessels of the nose)
Appearance of red blood vessels in the white of the eyes (scleral haemorrhage) – (sudden increase in the pressure within the blood vessels of the eyes).
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Whooping Cough in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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