Pertussis - whooping cough
caused species of Bordetella
B. pertussis
some cases - B. parapertussis.
Highly contagious.
Similar to other upper respiratory tract infection in early stage – spread easily.
Clinical features
Incubation - 7 to 14 days.
infants and young children.(90% cases below 5 years)
catarrhal stage – Malaise, anorexia, cough, sneezing, and runny nose, conjunctivitis.
paroxysmal stage –
after one to two weeks
paroxysms of coughing followed by an inspiratory “whooping” sound due to air way obstruction.
Complications of Pertussis
Vomiting, in severe cases leads to malnutrition.
Complications - pneumonia, bronchitis, encephalitis, pulmonary hypertension, and secondary bacterial.
Complication due to cough – rectal prolapse, inguinal hernia.
Transmission
airborne drops
More during the catarrhal stage
Diagnosis of Pertussis
Clinically – characteristic whoop.
culturing of nasopharyngeal swabs.
WBC/DC – increase lymphocytes.
polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and serological methods.
Treatment
Antibiotics - less infectious.
Close contacts - chemoprophylaxis - protected from developing symptomatic disease.
Prevention
vaccines
highly effective.
only a few years - lasts through childhood, the time of greatest risk.
Most infected adults and adolescents vaccinated or infected early.
Side effects – neurological - seizures and hypotonic episodes.