Treatment, Prevention and Control of Bordetella pertussis Infections

Treatment

Erythromycin is the drug of choice. Tetracycline, chloram-phenicol, and ampicillin are also effective. These antibiotics are effective (a) in eradicating the bacteria from the respiratory tract and (b) in reducing the duration of infectivity of the patients. Treatment of pertussis is, however, primarily sup-ported by good nursing care.

Prevention and Control

Vaccination of infants and children with pertussis vaccine is very effective. The vaccination is usually given for children below 7 years of age.

◗ Vaccines

Vaccines used against pertussis are of two types:

1.        Whole cell inactivated vaccine

2.        Acellular vaccine