Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Subject: Community Health Nursing II

Overview

Pertussis, sometimes known as whooping cough, is a very contagious respiratory illness. Whooping cough symptoms include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, red and watery eyes, and a moderate fever. The germs are at blame. Blood tests, chest X-rays, and throat cultures can all be used to diagnose it. Infants who have whooping cough are hospitalized and given the proper antibiotics as part of their treatment.

Pertussis, sometimes known as whooping cough, is a very contagious respiratory ailment. It's frequently characterized by a harsh hacking cough followed by a high-pitched breath intake that sounds like a "whoop."

Before the creation of the vaccine, whooping cough was thought to be a disease of children. Whooping cough now mainly affects teenagers and adults whose immunity has worn off as well as young children who are too young to have received the full course of vaccinations.

Symptoms

The first signs and symptoms of whooping cough can take one to three weeks to manifest after infection. They typically start out mild and resemble a common cold:

  • A stuffy nose.
  • Nasal blockage
  • Sneezing.
  • Watery, red eyes.
  • A little fever
  • Driest cough

Signs and symptoms start to get worse after a week or two. Strong and protracted coughing fits may:

  • Induce vomiting
  • Cause the face to turn red or blue.
  • Cause utter exhaustion

Causes

Bacteria are the reason behind whooping cough. Tiny germ-filled droplets are released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and anyone nearby can breathe them into their lungs.

Tests and Diagnosis

Early on, it can be challenging to distinguish whooping cough from other common respiratory illnesses like a cold, the flu, or bronchitis because the signs and symptoms are similar.

  • Throat test and culture: Your doctor collects a suction sample or a nose- or throat-swab sample. After that, the sample is examined for signs of whooping cough germs.
  • A blood test: To determine whether there is an elevated white blood cell count, blood can be collected and sent to a lab. The body uses white blood cells to combat illnesses like whooping cough.
  • Chest X-ray: When pneumonia complicates whooping cough and other respiratory infections, your doctor may prescribe an X-ray to look for inflammation or fluid in the lungs.

Treatments and Drugs

Because a whooping cough is more dangerous for children under one year old, those who have them are often hospitalized for treatment. If your kid has trouble swallowing food or drinks, intravenous fluids may be required. Adults and older children can typically manage their own treatment at home.

Medications Antibiotics can hasten recovery by eliminating the whooping cough-causing germs. Antibiotics for prevention may be administered to family members. Unfortunately, there aren't many options for cough relief. For instance, over-the-counter cough medications have negligible impact on whooping cough and are discouraged.

REFERENCE

Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).

HLMC, 2063, Nursing Care of Children

KidsHealth. 1995. 2017 http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/whooping-cough.html

Mandal, G.N. Textbook of Adult Nursing. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2013.

MedicineNet. 1996. 2017 http://www.medicinenet.com/pertussis/article.htm

Web MD. 2005. 2017 http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/whooping-cough-symptoms-treatment#1
Things to remember
  • Pertussis, sometimes known as whooping cough, is a very contagious respiratory illness.
  • The germs are at blame.
  • The typical whooping cough symptoms include a runny nose, nasal congestion, watery and red eyes, and a moderate temperature.
  • It can be diagnosed with chest X-rays, blood testing, and throat cultures.
  • If an infant is involved, prompt hospitalization and the use of the proper antibiotics can treat the condition.
Questions and Answers

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection.

 Whooping cough is caused by bacteria. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny germ-laden droplets are sprayed into the air and breathed into the lungs of anyone who happens to be nearby.

Symptoms are:

Once you become infected with whooping cough, it can take one to three weeks for signs and symptoms to appear. They're usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:

- Runny nose

- Nasal congestion

- Sneezing

- Red, watery eyes

- A mild fever

- Dry cough

 

After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen.Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:

- Provoke vomiting

- Result in a red or blue face

- Cause extreme fatigue

 

 

Diagnosing whooping cough in its early stages can be difficult because the signs and symptoms resemble those of other common respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, the flu or bronchitis.

  • Throat culture and test: Your doctor takes a nose or throat swab or suction sample. The sample is then checked for evidence of the presence of whooping cough bacteria.
  • Blood tests: A blood sample may be drawn and sent to a lab to check for a high white blood cell count. White blood cells help the body fight infections, such as whooping cough.
  •  A chest X-ray: Your doctor may order an X-ray to check for the presence of inflammation or fluid in the lungs, which can occur when pneumonia complicates whooping cough and other respiratory infections.

Treatments and drugs

Because whooping cough is riskier for infants, they are frequently hospitalized for treatment. If your kid has trouble swallowing meals or drinks, intravenous fluids may be required.

Adults and older children can typically handle their own treatment at home.

Medications Antibiotics can hasten healing by eliminating the whooping cough-causing germs. Antibiotics for prevention may be administered to family members. Unfortunately, there aren't many options for cough relief. For instance, over-the-counter cough medications have negligible impact on whooping cough and are discouraged.

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