Pertussis | Whooping Cough | Home | CDC ShareCompartir Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old. The best way to protect against pertussis is by getting vaccinated. English | en Español Pertussis - Oklahoma State Department of Health email | print Pertussis Pertussis is a reportable disease in Oklahoma. Pertussis is a respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is characterized by spasms of severe coughing (paroxysms). Coughing fits are continuous making it difficult for the person to catch their breath until the end of the fit.

These coughing fits are often followed by the characteristic inspiratory whoop and/or coughing so hard that the person vomits. Illness onset is subtle, with symptoms similar to those of a minor upper respiratory infection. There are three stages of pertussis. The first is called the catarrhal stage, occurring in the first 1 to 2 weeks of illness. Symptoms people have during the catarrhal stage include a runny nose, dry cough and no fever. Frequently lasting for several weeks, the paroxysmal stage (second stage) occurs when symptoms progress to episodes of coughing fits. The disease peaks in severity after 1 or more weeks of coughing fits. The third stage is the convalescent stage where symptoms begin to slowly taper. The convalescent stage often lasts 2 to 6 weeks but in some cases it may last up to 3 months. In adults, adolescents, and vaccinated children, pertussis often can present as a chronic cough. In very young infants, the whoop is often absent and apnea is common.

Bordetella pertussis is spread from one person to another when respiratory droplets are expelled from the nose or throat of an infected person through coughing or sneezing, and then inhaled by another person. It is spread to those who have prolonged close contact with an infected person, such as household members. In most cases, school classmates, co-workers, and people in clinic waiting rooms are not considered at risk. The period of time between exposure and symptom onset range from four to 21 days. Without treatment, an infected person can spread the disease from the time he or she starts coughing up to three weeks after symptom onset. After five days of treatment an appropriate antibiotic, an infected person cannot spread the disease. Cases of pertussis reported to the Oklahoma State Department of Health are investigated to identify exposed household, close, and direct face-to-face contacts as well as those with direct contact with nasal or throat secretions to recommend a preventive course of antibiotics in order to prevent the development of pertussis in contacts. Pertussis Fact Sheets and Information: What Is Whooping Cough or Pertussis?

By Ingrid Koo, PhD Updated May 04, 2016 Whooping cough, also known as Pertussis , is a very contagious bacterial infection that can be deadly to small infants who have not been vaccinated. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine since the 1940s, the number of cases of whooping cough have been increasing over the past two decade, particularly among teenagers and adults, in whom diagnosis can be difficult. Whooping cough outbreaks occur every 3 to 5 years in the United States. Cases in teenagers and adults tend to be less severe because of partial immunity from childhood vaccinations, but even mild infections can be spread to infants who are more susceptible to serious complications. Species Name: Bordatella pertussis or Bordatella parapertussis Type of Microbe: Gram-negative Bacteria How it causes disease: After breathing in of droplets from a contagious person, the bacteria bind to hair-like structures (called cilia) on cells of the respiratory tract. They release several different toxins which disrupt cell function, paralyze movement of cilia, interfere with the immune response, and cause cell death, leading to a sloughing off of dead cells in the throat.

How it spreads: Whooping cough is spread through droplets that are produced by coughing or sneezing. The infection is very contagious even before symptoms appear and can remain contagious for weeks or months following initial infection. Who’s at risk? Before introduction of the pertussis vaccine , most children got infected between the ages of 1 and 5 years. Among immunized children, infants less than 1 year of age are at highest risk for serious illness and complications. Teenagers and adults are increasingly at risk if their vaccine-induced immunity wears off. Pertussis is still a major cause of death and disease in malnourished children. Infections occur more in the late winter and spring. Girls are more likely to get infected than boys. Symptoms: Seven to 14 days following exposure to the bacteria, an infected person will develop cold symptoms (low grade temperature, body aches, red eyes, runny nose, mild cough, and sneezing). After a week, the cough will become more severe with repeated coughing. Coughing bouts consist of violent and rapid coughing that continues until air is gone from the lungs.

Inhalation of new air makes a loud “whooping” sound, which gives the disease its name. Following bouts of coughing, children may vomit and feel exhausted. Coughing bouts can in some cases lead to a loss of oxygen, with sometimes fatal consequences. The severe coughing stage can last one week to over a month. Symptoms are often milder in adults or teenagers who have partial immunity from childhood vaccinations. Diagnosis: Diagnosis is usually made based on physical examination, patient’s history, and lab tests. Laboratory tests including cultures or DNA tests of samples from a patient's throat, or blood tests for antibodies can be used for analysis. Some medical facilities may also have rapid diagnostic tests. Treatment: In addition to taking in lots of fluids and keeping well-nourished, antibiotics can reduce the severity or duration of whooping cough. The macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin, azithromycin , and clarithromycin) are the most commonly prescribed. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is the alternative for patients who cannot take macrolides or have drug-resistant infections. Infants may be treated with corticosteroids in addition to antibiotics in some cases.

The infection can persist for a long time and many don't seek out a doctor until after coughing for weeks or months. Antibiotics have to be taken early in the course to have much of an effect, but they may still reduce infectiousness later on. Prevention: A pertussis vaccine is available as part of a combination vaccine called DTaP that protects against pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus. The vaccine is given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, and a 4th shot is given at 15 to 18 months. A fifth shot is given at 4 to 6 years, prior to entry into kindergarten. Because immunity from the vaccine can fade over time, a booster shot (“Tdap”), consisting of vaccines for tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis, is recommended by the CDC. The tetanus and diptheria booster is recommended every 10 years, and Tdap is recommended once during adulthood to supplement the tetanus and diptheria boosters. Complications: Babies can get really sick. The most common complications associated with whooping cough are secondary infections, such as pneumonia, convulsions, and ear infections.

Secondary infections are the most common cause of whooping cough-related deaths. Other physical complications affecting the eyes (subconjunctival hemorrhage) or hernias can occur following coughing bouts. A small percentage of individuals can develop potentially fatal neurological diseases such as encephalopathy following coughing bouts that result in loss of oxygen to the brain. Whooping cough in adults can lead to pneumonia and rib fractures from coughing bouts. Sources: :: Vaccinate Your Baby : Pertussis :: Vaccinate Your Baby Click on the photo above to open the Pertussis page from the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases eBook! The Disease Also known as whooping cough, pertussis is a highly contagious disease. It is also the most common vaccine-preventable disease in the U.S. This disease, which spreads easily through coughing and sneezing, usually starts with cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever. (People with pertussis are most contagious up to about 2 weeks after the cough begins.) After 1 to 2 weeks, violent and rapid coughing with a loud "whooping" sound, may occur.

( Watch a video of a child with whooping cough.) Pertussis can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia and apnea (slowed or stopped breathing), in infants and young children, especially those who are not fully vaccinated. Teens and adults can also get complications from pertussis, but they are usually less serious than in infants and young children. Complications in teens and adults, such as passing out or fracturing a rib, are often caused by the cough itself. In adolescents and adults, pertussis often appears to be just a bad cold with symptoms such as a prolonged cough with no "whooping" sounds. People can spread pertussis to babies without even knowing they are sick because the illness may be so mild. Many infants who get pertussis catch it from their parents or older brothers and sisters. In up to 83% of infant pertussis cases, babies caught the disease from a family member, usually a parent. Most unvaccinated children living with a family member with pertussis will contract the disease. The Statistics and Outbreaks Ninety-percent (90%) of pertussis-associated deaths have been among babies less than 1 year old.

In infants younger than 1 year of age who get pertussis, about half are hospitalized. Of those infants who are hospitalized with pertussis about 1 in 4 get pneumonia; 1 or 2 in 100 will have convulsions; two thirds will have apnea (slowed or stopped breathing); 1 in 300 will have encephalopathy (disease of the brain) ; and 1 or 2 in 100 will die. Large outbreaks of pertussis have been occurring in the U.S. in recent years. In 2010, more than 27,000 cases were reported and by 2012 that number rose to more than 48,000 cases, marking a 58-year high. In 2013, the number of cases was 28,639, and in 2014, 28,660 pertussis cases were reported to the CDC. Outbreaks of the disease continue in 2015.

There are several reasons that help explain why there have been more cases of pertussis over the last few years including increased awareness, improved diagnostic tests, better reporting, more circulation of the bacteria, and waning immunity. In addition, many children fail to receive all of the recommended doses of the vaccine and remain vulnerable to the disease. Pertussis vaccines are effective, but not perfect. They typically offer high levels of protection within the first 2 years of getting vaccinated, but then protection declines over time. Although the vaccine isn't perfect, getting the pertussis vaccine is always a better choice than not getting vaccinated against pertussis. Vaccinated children who get pertussis usually have a milder case of the disease and reduced risk of serious complications. They are also less likely to spread the pertussis than unvaccinated children. The Vaccine The childhood vaccine that protects against pertussis is called DTaP (combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine).For the best protection against pertussis children should receive all five doses of the DTaP vaccine at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, between 15-18 months and between 4-6 years.

The pertussis booster vaccine for adolescents and adults is called Tdap (combined tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine). Preteens should get one dose of the Tdap vaccine at 11 or 12 years old. Adults 19 years of age and older who didn't get Tdap as a preteen or teen should also get one dose of Tdap. According to the CDC, children who haven't received their five doses of DTaP vaccines are at least 8 times more likely to get pertussis than children who received all five recommended doses of DTaP. Women should be vaccinated with Tdap during every pregnancy, preferably in the third trimester (between the 27th and 36th week). By getting vaccinated during pregnancy, mothers build antibodies that are transferred to the newborn, providing protection against pertussis before the baby can get their first dose of DTaP vaccine at 2 months old. Tdap also protects mothers during delivery, which makes them less likely to transmit pertussis to their babies. This recommendation is supported by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .

If not vaccinated during pregnancy, new mothers should receive the Tdap vaccine postpartum before leaving the hospital or birthing center. In addition, all family members and caregivers of new infants should also get vaccinated with Tdap. If possible, people should receive the vaccine at least 2 weeks before beginning close contact with the infant. The strategy of protecting infants from disease by vaccinating pregnant women and vaccinating those people who will be around the new baby is called "cocooning." Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Home > Health Information > Diseases & Conditions > Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can be spread by coughing. People with pertussis have severe coughing attacks that can last for months. Infants too young for vaccination are at greatest risk for life-threatening cases of pertussis. Over 9,000 cases of pertussis were reported in California during 2010, the most in over 60 years, including 10 infant deaths.

Consistent with a peak in incidence every 3-5 years, CDPH has declared a whooping cough epidemic in 2014. Pertussis is widespread throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world. Make sure that you have been vaccinated against whooping cough. Booster doses are needed throughout life, because protection against whooping cough after vaccination or disease wanes over time. Pregnant Women are recommended to receive Tdap (whooping cough booster) in their third trimester (between 27-36 weeks of pregnancy, at the earliest opportunity during this window). Tdap is recommended during each pregnancy, even when given before pregnancy. The protection that expectant moms receive from Tdap also passes to their baby in the womb. This helps protect babies during the most vulnerable period, until they are old enough to get their first whooping cough vaccination at 6--8 weeks of age Infants can start the childhood whooping cough vaccine series, DTaP (PDF) , as early as 6 weeks of age. Even one dose of DTaP may offer some protection against fatal whooping cough disease in infants.

Young children need five doses of DTaP by kindergarten (ages 4-6) Students in 7th grade in California need to have met the requirement for a Tdap (PDF) booster - see . Adults are also recommended to receive a Tdap booster, especially if they are in contact with infants or are health care workers, but most adults have not yet received Tdap. Whooping cough vaccination recommendations of the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) are . For the latest information on whooping cough in the state of California, visit the CDPH Pertussis Summary Reports page . How Well-Vaccinated Is Your Child's Child Care Facility/School? Child care facilities with low vaccination rates are at increased risk for outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Some children are allowed by California law to skip immunizations if a parent submits a personal beliefs exemption (PBE) or medical exemption (PME) at enrollment. Other children, may be admitted to child care on the ' condition ' they complete remaining vaccinations when due. Often there is no follow-up and these children remain under-vaccinated.

To lookup vaccination rates at your child care/ school, click below: Pertussis (Whooping Cough) | Disease Directory | Travelers' Health | CDC Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Clinician Information What is pertussis? Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” is a contagious disease spread when infected people cough and sneeze near others. Early symptoms are similar to a cold and include runny nose, low fevers, mild cough, and a pause in breathing for babies. Later symptoms of the disease include “fits” of many rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop,” vomiting, and exhaustion. Pertussis is very serious for babies. Among babies younger than 1 year of age who get pertussis, more than half will be hospitalized and 1 in 100 will die. Who is at risk? Pertussis is seen in all countries, so all travelers are at risk. Pertussis rates are the highest in developing countries where very few people have had the vaccine. Babies who are too young to have had their first 3 pertussis shots are most at risk.

Adults, even those who received pertussis vaccines as children, should be revaccinated with a one-time dose of Tdap vaccine. It is estimated that 30–50 million people get pertussis and 300,000 people die from pertussis every year worldwide. What can travelers do to prevent pertussis? Get a pertussis vaccine: Adults 19 or older should receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine. Confirm with your doctor that you have received the vaccine for pertussis. In the United States, pertussis vaccine is only available in combination with other vaccines that protect you against diseases such as diphtheria and tetanus . They are DTaP and Tdap. DTaP vaccine is given to children younger than 7 years of age. Children should get 5 doses of DTaP, one dose at each of the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 15-18 months and 4-6 years. Tdap vaccine is given to adolescents and adults. Adolescents 11-18 years of age should receive a booster dose, preferably at 11-12 years of age.

Adults 19 years of age and older should receive a one-time booster dose. Note: Do not confuse this with the Td (tetanus/diphtheria) vaccine which you should receive every 10 years or after an exposure to tetanus. Pregnant women should get a dose of Tdap during each pregnancy, preferably at 27 through 36 weeks gestation. For children 7-10 years of age who are not fully immunized against pertussis, a single dose of Tdap should be given. See Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for more information. Practice hygiene and cleanliness: Wash your hands often. If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol). Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups, with people who are sick.

If you feel sick and think you may have pertussis: Talk to your doctor or nurse if you feel seriously ill, especially if you have a fever. Tell them about your travel. Pertussis Pertussis Disease Etiology Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. [11]. Bordetella parapertussis can cause similar symptoms. It is also possible that both B. pertussis and parapertussis are present. [18]. Reservoirs/ Disease Transmission Humans are the reservoirs for B. pertussis. [3]. Pertussis is spread from person to person through the inhalation of aerosol droplets of infected nasal and throat discharges released during coughing and sneezing. [3] Pertussis is highly contagious among the unimmunized and more so at the beginning of the infection, before symptoms of paroxysmal coughing occur. [8]. Up to 90% of those living with an infected person will develop the disease. [9]. The period of contagion can be reduced with the use of appropriate antibiotics. [3].

Historical Information According to W.H. Holmes, unlike other classic contagious diseases, pertussis has no ancient history. [11]. Pertussis first shows up in the history books in 1540. The first epidemic occurred in Paris in 1578 and was studied by Guillaume de Baillou. It had various names depending on where the outbreaks occurred until it was described and named in 1679 by Sydenham. Pertussis means ï¿½violent cough.ï¿½ It wasnï¿½t until 1900 that Bordet and Gengou observed B. pertussis in a patientï¿½s sputum. They were able to isolate the organism in 1906. Vaccine development began soon after. [11]. As vaccines came into use in the United States pertussis incidence declined from about 150 cases per 100,000 persons between 1922 and 1940 to as low as 0.5 per 100,000 in 1976.

[18] Pertussis began to reoccur in the 1980s, and by 2005 reported cases of pertussis were as high as 8.6 per 100,000 persons. [18]. Specific Microbial Characteristics Bordetella pertussis is an very small, Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacillus. [2]. B. pertussis attaches to and grows on the ciliated cells of the respiratory epithelium, where it produces exotoxins. [7], [2]. It can appear singly or in pairs. [7]. Please see photo below. ï¿½Photomicrograph of Bordetella (Haemophilus) pertussis bacteria using Gram stain technique. CDCï¿½ [2]. Virulence Factors Colonization Filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) is a protein located on the surface of Bordetella pertussis. FHA is large and filamentous, branching off from the surface of B. pertussis allowing it to adhere to the ciliated cells of the respiratory epithelium. [7]. Some components of pertussis toxin (PTx) also assist with adherence.

[7]. There is evidence that Bordetella may bind to phagocytes and, once engulfed, remain inside as an intercellular parasite. [7]. ï¿½Binding of pertussis toxin to cell membrane.ï¿½ [2]. Toxins PTx, mentioned above, is an oligopeptide AB-type exotoxin. [2]. It has multiple functions. It can cause T cell lymphocytosis (please see photo below) and alter cyclic AMP regulated hormonal activities by inactivating the Gi protein that inhibits cAMP. It blocks B and T cells from returning to the lymphatics, causing susceptibility to other infections. [7]. Pertussis toxin is the major cause of paroxysmal coughing. [2]. B. pertussis produces and secretes invasive adenylate cyclase which reduces phagocytic activity and also causes hemolysis. It also produces tracheal cytotoxin, a peptidoglycan fragment that kills ciliated cells, and a lethal toxin (previously called dermonecrotic toxin) that causes inflammation and necrosis in the areas surrounding the infection. [7].

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or endotoxin, of Bordetella pertussis is different from that of other Gram-negative bacterium. The role of pertussis LPS is not known. [7]. ï¿½BLOOD LYMPHOCYTOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH PERTUSSISï¿½ ï¿½ The Johns Hopkins Autopsy Resource (JHAR). Image Archive. [2]. Signs and Symptoms After an incubation period of about ten (but up to 21) days, the catarrhal stage begins. [3]. Symptoms at this point are those of most upper respiratory infections. Rhinitis, sneezing, lacrimation, mild coughing, conjunctival redness, and fever may be present. This stage can last from one to two weeks. [8], [2]. The paroxysmal stage follows with the characteristic ï¿½whoopingï¿½ sound. The coughs will often occur every few minutes and interfere with oral intake. Vomiting may occur after coughing. [2], [8].

Prolonged attacks causing hypoxia can lead to additional problems such as seizure, hypoxic encephalopathy, or coma. [2]. To view video of the characteristic paroxysmal coughing, please visit [17]. The paroxysmal stage may last from two to four weeks or longer. [8]. The third stage, or convalescent stage, is a time of recovery, and can last up to 16 weeks. [2]. Specific Tests for Identification Isolation of B. pertussis for identification becomes more difficult after the catarrhal stage. Specimens should be obtained from either a nasopharyngeal aspirate or a swab of the posterior nasopharynx, with nasopharyngeal aspirate somewhat more likely to yield a positive result. [18]. A calcium alginate, Dacron, or rayon swab should be used to obtain the specimen. Regan-Lowe agar or freshly prepared Bordet-Gengou are the preferred culture media. [18], [8].

Serologic testing is not standardized and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can only be used as a confirmation of pertussis in persons age 11 and older in the state of Massachusetts. [18]. Direct fluorescent antibody testing of nasopharyngeal secretions may be used alongside the cultures mentioned above, but should not alone be considered confirmation of a case of pertussis. [18]. It is also possible to identify and trace specific strains of Bordetella pertussis through Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, a type of DNA fingerprinting. [18]. Prevention/ Vaccines Experimental vaccines were in use in the 1930s, but it took until the 1940s for whole cell vaccines with significant efficacy to become available. Pertussis immunization was accepted and endorsed by the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American Medical Association in 1944. [11].

A brief discussion of the DTP versus DTaP vaccines can be found below, under the heading ï¿½Control/ Treatment.ï¿½ A new campaign by vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur Inc., Sounds of Pertussis, recommends immunizations as well as ï¿½booster shotsï¿½ in adults who may pass the disease on to small children. [14]. Control/ Treatment According to data from the World Health Organization, as immunization rates for B. pertussis in a population increase, there is a marked decrease in the incidence of infections. Please see graph below titled ï¿½Pertussis global annual reported cases and DTP3 coverage, 1980 - 2008.ï¿½ [10] It is clear from the data that widespread immunizations are very effective at keeping pertussis outbreaks down. However, DTP and DTaP were not considered separately in this data.

In the United States, and in several other countries, it has become common for DTaP (an acellular vaccine) to be given rather than DTP (which contains whole cells) due to mild side effects in about 20% of children receiving DTP and approximately 1 in 150,000 cases involving severe or irreversible brain damage. [7]. Concerns have been raised recently that because of the narrower scope of the DTaP vaccine, as opposed to DTP which contains hundreds of antigens, new resistant strains are appearing. [19]. A case of pertussis is treated with a course of antibiotics and, in severe cases, hospitalization. [3]. The Cochrane Collaboration reported in 2007 that antibiotics do not change the course of pertussis. [1]. With the exception of vaccination, the measures recommended to decrease the spread of pertussis are the same as those used to avoid catching or spreading a cold: frequent hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and keeping the sick away from those who are well. [4].

Local and National Cases/ Outbreaks According to the Austin/ Travis County Health Department, we have an ï¿½ongoing pertussis situation in this Travis County.ï¿½ [4]. In a recent update to their website, from October 1, 2009 - February 10, 2010 there have been 168 confirmed and 178 probable cases in our county. Of those cases, 78.9% of the people had been vaccinated against the disease. The median age of the infected was 8 years, with cases among those from less than one month of age up to age 68. [13]. Cases continue to pop up in various places around the country. Doing a web search of ï¿½current pertussis outbreaks 2010ï¿½ yields newspaper articles from places all over the nation where outbreaks are occurring. Immunity appears to be fading post-immunization, as evidenced by an increase of pertussis among adolescents and adults who have previously been vaccinated. [12].

The Texas Department of State Health Services Infectious Disease Control Unit states that the incidence rate of pertussis in Travis county in 2006 was 15.9 per 100,000 population. [15]. The rate for the entire state of Texas in 2005 was 9.66 per 100,000 population. [15]. According to the CDC the incidence of pertussis in the US declined from 8.9 cases per 100,000 population from 2004 to 2005 to 3.62 cases per 100,000 population in 2007. [16]. Global Cases/ Outbreaks Levels of immunization vary from country to country. Please see the CDC produced map below titled ï¿½Immunization coverage with DTP3 vaccines in infants, 2008.ï¿½ [10]. Although it is difficult to estimate the number of cases worldwide, incidence of pertussis in adults has been estimated at 200 to 500 per 100,000 persons. [6].

According to officials from the World Health Organization, ï¿½Pertussis remains one of the major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality at the global level.ï¿½ [5]. References [1] ï¿½Antibiotics do not change the natural history of pertussis." Pulse 8/2/2007: 13. Anon. 2/19/2010. [2] ï¿½Bacteriology- Chapter Eighteen Bordetella and Haemophilus.ï¿½ University of South Carolina. Website of Dr. Abdul Ghaffar. Last updated 5/5/2009. 2/16/2010. [3] ï¿½Health Beat: Pertussis.ï¿½ Illinois Department of Health. Anon. Last updated December 2006. 2/18/2010. [4] ï¿½Increase in Pertussis in Austin/ Travis County.ï¿½ Austin/ Travis County Health and Human Services Department. Anon. No date provided. 2/18/2010.

[5] ï¿½Invited Commentary: Pertussis, A Forgotten Killer.ï¿½ American Journal of Epidemiology. 2002 May 15;155(10):897-8. Philippe Duclos and Jean-Marc Olivï¿½ From the Department of Vaccines and Biologicals, Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals, World Health Organization. 2/20/2010. [6] ï¿½Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices With Regard to Adult Pertussis Vaccine Booster in Travelers.ï¿½ Journal of Travel Medicine , 14(3 ):145-150. Published Online: 4/9/2007. 2/25/2010. [7] ï¿½The Microbial World.ï¿½ Lectures in Microbiology by Kenneth Todar, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Bacteriology. No date provided. 2/18/2010. [8] Pediatric Clinical Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care. Health Canada. First Nations, Inuit and Aboriginal Health. 2001.

#_18-16 2/16/2010. [9] ï¿½Pertussis.ï¿½ National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases: Division of Bacterial Diseases. Anon. Written: March 25, 2009. 2/16/2010. [10] ï¿½Pertussis.ï¿½ World Health Organization. Anon. No date provided. 2/18/2010. [11] ï¿½ Pertussis in the Preantibiotic and Prevaccine Era, with Emphasis on Adult Pertussis .ï¿½ Clinical Infectious Diseases , Vol. 28, Supplement 2. Pertussis in Adults: Epidemiology, Signs, Symptoms, and Implications for Vaccination (Jun., 1999), pp. S107-S111 James D. Cherry. Published by: The University of Chicago Press. 2/19/2010. [12] ï¿½Pertussis Resurgence: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, and Beyond.ï¿½ Pharmacotherapy.

2007;27(1):41-52. ï¿½ 2007 Pharmacotherapy Publications. Sarah E. Raguckas, Pharm.D., et al. 2/19/2010. [13] ï¿½Pertussis Update: Travis County.ï¿½ Austin/ Travis County Health and Human Services Department. Posted 2/5/2010. Anon. 2/19/2010. [14] ï¿½Sounds of Pertussis.ï¿½ Sanofi Pasteur Inc. 2/20/2010. [15] ï¿½Statistics: Pertussis.ï¿½ Texas Department of State Health Services Infectious Disease Control Unit. Updated 8/3/2007. 2/25/2010. [16] ï¿½Summary of Notifiable Diseases.ï¿½ Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 56(53);1-94. Patsy A. Hall-Baker, et. al. 7/9/2009.

2/25/2010. [17] ï¿½Vaccine Information for the Public and Health Professionals.ï¿½ Immunization Action Coalition. Videos from Various Sources. No date provided. 2/18/2010. [18] VPD Surveillance Manual, 4th Edition, 2008. Pertussis: Chapter 10-1. Kristin Brown, MPH, et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2/16/2010. [19] ï¿½Whooping cough strain now immune to vaccine.ï¿½ The Daily Telegraph. Danny Rose. Published 2/11/2010. 2/18/2010. Whooping Cough: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment Whooping Cough: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer | March 29, 2016 12:35pm ET MORE Whooping cough, or pertussis, gets its name from the "whoop" sound that a person (typically a child) makes when he or she gasps for air after a coughing fit.

Credit: Ilike | Shutterstock Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract that causes severe coughing. The disease is especially serious for babies. Cases of whooping cough in the United States have been on the rise in recent years, and in 2012, the number of U.S. illnesses soared to more than 48,000 — more than any other year since 1955, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . In 2013, there was a decrease in cases, but so far in 2014, there has been an increase over the previous year. Whooping cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis . The microbes attach to tiny hairs in the respiratory tract called cilia, and release toxins that can cause swelling and damage cilia, according to the CDC. Whooping cough symptoms At first, a person with whooping cough will typically have coldlike symptoms, such as a runny nose and a low-grade fever.

During this first stage of infection, there is no way for a doctor to tell the difference between whooping cough and a regular cold just by looking at the patient's symptoms, said Dr. Alejandro Jordan-Villegas, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida. About one to two weeks later, infected individuals can experience severe and prolonged coughing. This coughing is so severe that it can cause vomiting, and sometimes it causes fainting and fractured ribs, Jordan-Villegas said. The disease gets its name from the "whoop" sound that a person (typically a child) makes when he or she gasps for air after a coughing fit. However, not everyone with whooping cough will make this sound — teens and adults typically don't, according to the CDC. The coughing fits can last a long time, up to 10 weeks or more, and the entire illness usually lasts about 12 weeks, Jordan-Villegas said. Instead of a cough, infants may have apnea (pauses in breathing). Whooping cough transmission Whooping cough is contagious, meaning it is spread from person to person.

Transmission typically happens when a person with pertussis coughs or sneezes, and another person nearby breathes in the bacteria. Adults who have been vaccinated against pertussis may have more mild symptoms of the disease, and so they may think they have a regular cold and not go to the doctor, Jordan-Villegas said. But adults who have undiagnosed whooping cough can then transmit the disease, often to children who haven't been vaccinated, Jordan-Villegas said. That's why it's so important for adults to get their booster shot, and for children and teens to finish the vaccination series, Jordan-Villegas said. Whooping cough diagnosis Whooping cough can be diagnosed by taking a nose or throat swab, and then culturing the sample to see if whooping cough bacteria grow, Jordan-Villegas said. However, because this process takes a long time, doctors often use a molecular technique that amplifies a gene of the bacteria, he said. This Gram-stained photomicrograph depicts numbers of Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which is the etiologic pathogen for pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Credit: CDC.

Whooping cough in infants Whooping cough is most serious in infants — about 50 percent of babies less than a year old who are sick with whooping cough will need to be treated in a hospital, and 25 percent of hospitalized babies will develop a lung infection, according to the CDC. Of the 255 people who died from whooping cough between 2000 and 2012, 221 (87 percent) were less than 3 months of age, the CDC says. Young babies are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough because they cannot be vaccinated against the disease until they are 2 months old. However, there are still ways to protect infants from whooping cough, discussed in the "whooping cough vaccine" section below. Parents should also keep infants away from anyone with cold/cough symptoms, the CDC says. Whooping cough vaccine The recommended whooping cough vaccine for children is the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine. Children should receive a series of five vaccinations at ages 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years, the CDC says.

Teens should get a whooping cough booster shot, called Tdap, when they are 11 or 12 years old. Adults ages 19 and older should get a Tdap shot in place of one of their tetanus shots, which should be given every 10 years, the CDC says. To protect infants before they are 2 months old, the CDC recommends that women get vaccinated against whooping cough during each pregnancy . It is thought that a pregnant women's antibodies are transferred to the fetus, which protects them once they are born, the CDC says. Family and friends who plan to have contact with very young infants should also get a Tdap booster before they visit the newborn, the CDC recommends. In 1997, the United States introduced a newer version of the whooping cough vaccine, called the acellular pertussis vaccine. While this newer vaccine is thought to cause fewer side effects than the old, the protection offered by the newer vaccine fades more quickly — within a few years, according to a 2011 study , and several other studies. This waning immunity may be in part responsible for spikes in whooping cough cases among teens in recent years.

Still, experts remain unsure of whether another whooping cough booster shot should be added to the vaccination schedule . However, if a vaccinated child does develop pertussis, the child's condition is usually less serve if he or she is up to date with the pertussis vaccinations. Still, some researchers have proposed to bring back the old version of the vaccine, called the whole-cell pertussis vaccine. In a 2016 study , researchers modeled what would happen if children received one dose of the whole-cell vaccine, followed by four doses of the acellular vaccine in early childhood. The study suggested that this "combined" vaccination strategy could reduce the rate of whooping cough infections by up to 95 percent, and save millions of dollars in health care costs. But some experts are skeptical that parents would accept bringing back the whole-cell pertussis vaccine, because this vaccine has a higher rate of side effects than the acellular vaccine. These side effects are rare, but include fever and seizures. Overall, the 2016 study found that the combined vaccination strategy would lead to a 96 percent decrease in hospitalizations due to either whooping cough or vaccine-related side effects.

Whooping cough treatment People who get a diagnosis of whooping cough are typically treated with antibiotics for five days, Jordan-Villegas said. If the condition is treated early — in the first stage of the disease — the antibiotics may make the condition less severe. In the later stages of the disease, when the condition is most often diagnosed, antibiotics usually don't help with symptoms, but they are still given because they can reduce the likelihood that the disease will be spread to others, Jordan-Villegas said. Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner . Follow Live Science @livescience , Facebook & Google+ . Additional resources

Question: Which disease is also known as Pertussis?
Answer: WHOOPING COUGH