Whooping cough (Pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects the lungs and respiratory tract. It is also popularly known as "the 100-day cough." It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which is found in the mouth, nose, and throat of an infected person.
Transmission
Whooping cough is transmitted through airborne droplets released when an infected person coughs. It can also be spread by individuals who have only a mild form of the disease or who show no symptoms at all. A person with whooping cough can spread the disease for up to 3 weeks after the coughing begins. Transmission may also occur indirectly through recently contaminated common-use objects.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear within 7–10 days after exposure, but in some cases may take up to 6 weeks to develop.
- severe, dry coughing fits
- coughing followed by vomiting
- characteristic "whooping" sound
- sleep disturbances
- weight loss
- urinary incontinence
- rib fractures
- fainting caused by intense coughing
The disease mainly affects infants who are too young to be vaccinated, as well as individuals whose vaccine protection has decreased (adolescents and adults who are far from their last vaccine dose or from having had the disease).
Vaccinated adults, adolescents, or children may have atypical symptoms. While adolescents and adults usually develop moderate forms of the disease, unvaccinated young children — the most vulnerable group — can develop very severe forms, with a high risk of complications and death.
Complications
- Respiratory: pneumonia, pulmonary emphysema, mediastinal or subcutaneous emphysema, atelectasis, bronchiectasis, spontaneous pneumothorax
- Nervous system: encephalopathy, encephalitis (due to hypoxia), paresis, paralysis of cranial nerves (III)
- Hemorrhagic: conjunctival or eyelid bleeding, nosebleeds
- Mechanical: rectal prolapse, umbilical hernia, diaphragmatic rupture, ulceration of the lingual frenulum
- epileptic seizures
- speech disorders
- intellectual disability
- death
Prevention
The most important way to prevent whooping cough is through complete immunization. The pertussis vaccine is usually administered together with vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus (often also in combination with poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae, and hepatitis B vaccines).
The initial series usually consists of 2–3 doses administered between the ages of 2 and 12 months, according to the national vaccination schedule.
Some EU/EEA countries recommend booster doses for adolescents, adults, and/or pregnant women, which also temporarily protect newborns after birth. In addition, some countries recommend booster doses immediately after childbirth for unprotected women to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease to the newborn.
