Whooping Cough

Whooping Cough

Definition

A highly infectious disease of the respiratory tract, caused by the whooping cough bacilli. The disease occurs in epidemics every 3-4 years.

Causative organism

Whooping cough bacilli Bordetella pertussis.

Mode of transmission - Droplet method and by personal contact.

Incubation period - Usually 7 to 14 days but not more than 3 weeks

Clinical manifestations

·  Catarrhal Stage

·  Paroxysmal Stage

·  Convalescent Stage.

·  Fever

·  Cold

·  Running nose

·  Irritating cough which gradually becomes paroxysmal within 1-2 weeks.

Complications

·  Hernia

·  Prolapsed rectum

·  Sub conjunctiva hemorrhage

·  Encephalopathy

·  Pneumonia and bronchiectasis

Control measures

·  Early diagnosis

·  Isolation and treatment of cases

·  Disinfection of discharges from nose and throat are general principles of control

·  Early diagnosis is possible only by bacteriological examination of nose and throat Secretions.

·  Enthroning may help to shorten the duration of illness.

Treatment

Activation Immunization: It is a practice to administer pertussis vaccine in combination with diphtheria and tetanus toxoid as DPT vaccine.

It can be treated with antibiotics, usually erythromycin for 2 weeks.