Whooping Cough

What is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by severe coughing spells that are often followed by a “whooping” sound when the person tries to inhale air after coughing.

Key features of whooping cough include:

1. Transmission: Whooping cough is primarily spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is highly contagious, especially during the early stages of the illness when symptoms may resemble a common cold.
2. Symptoms: The symptoms of whooping cough typically progress through several stages. The initial stage, known as the catarrhal stage, resembles a cold with symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and low-grade fever. The second stage, the paroxysmal stage, is characterized by severe and uncontrollable coughing fits that can be intense and prolonged. These coughing fits may lead to vomiting, exhaustion, and difficulty breathing. The final stage, the convalescent stage, involves a gradual improvement in symptoms but may still include occasional coughing spells.
3. Complications: Whooping cough can be particularly severe in infants and young children, leading to complications such as pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy (brain inflammation), dehydration, and respiratory failure. In rare cases, whooping cough can be fatal, especially in infants less than 6 months old.
4. Diagnosis: Diagnosis of whooping cough is based on clinical symptoms, medical history, and laboratory tests. Nasopharyngeal swabs or sputum samples may be collected and tested for the presence of Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
5. Treatment: Treatment for whooping cough typically involves antibiotics to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, as well as to prevent the spread of the infection to others. Supportive care, such as rest, hydration, and monitoring for complications, is also important. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary, especially for infants, young children, or individuals with severe symptoms or complications.

How to Prevent Whooping Cough?

Prevention of whooping cough includes vaccination with the pertussis vaccine, which is often administered as part of the combination vaccine DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) for children, and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) for adolescents and adults. Vaccination helps protect against whooping cough and reduces the risk of severe illness and complications, particularly in vulnerable populations such as infants and pregnant women.

NOVA Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Associates is committed to providing excellent care in all aspects of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders. With offices located in Lansdowne and Dulles/South Riding, we offer care for the entire Northern Virginia region, serving locations from Chantilly, Fairfax, Centreville, Manassas, Gainesville to Reston, Sterling, Leesburg, Ashburn, Brambleton, Purcellville and more.