Pertussis (cont.)
How is whooping cough transmitted?
Whooping cough is very highly contagious and is spread among people by direct contact with fluids from the nose or mouth of infected people. People contaminate their hands with respiratory secretions from an infected person and then touch their own mouth or nose. In addition, small bacteria-containing droplets enter the air during coughing or sneezing. People can become infected by breathing in these drops.
Can adults get whooping cough?
Although whooping cough is considered to be an illness of childhood, adults may also develop the disease. The illness usually is milder in adults than in children, but the duration of the paroxysmal cough is just as long as in children. The characteristic whoop that occurs after paroxysmal bouts of coughing is recognized in only 20%-40% of adults with whooping cough. Because immunity from the pertussis vaccine decreases over time but does not necessarily disappear, adults who do become infected may have retained a partial degree of immunity against the infection that results in a milder illness. Whooping cough in adults is more common than usually appreciated, accounting for up to 7% of adult illnesses that cause coughing each year. Infected adults are a reservoir (source) of infection for children.
How is whooping cough diagnosed?
When a patient has the typical symptoms of whooping
cough, the diagnosis can be made from the clinical history. However, the disease
and its symptoms, including its severity, can vary among affected individuals.
In cases in which the diagnosis is not certain or a doctor wants to confirm the
diagnosis, laboratory tests can be carried out. Culture of the bacterium
Bordetella pertussis from nasal secretions
can establish the diagnosis. Another test that has been used to successfully
identify the bacterium and diagnose pertussis is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that can identify genetic material from the bacterium in nasal
secretions.
Next: How is whooping cough treated? »
- azithromycin, Zithromax, Zmax - Establishes the medication azithromycin (Zithromax), a drug that is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections, and certain sexually transmitted infectious diseases.
- Childhood Vaccination Schedule - Read our printable children's immunization schedule and learn about vaccines for kids (Hib, polio, DTaP, MMR, HPV, flu, chickenpox, meningitis, rotavirus, pneumonia, hepatitis A and B).
- Fever - Get the facts on fever treatment (in children and adults). Learn ways to bring down a high fever and know the signs of other serious types of major illness.
Latest Medical News
Kids Health RSS