Symptoms
Causes
Prevention
Complications
What is the complications of pertussis?
Pertussis in infants is often severe, and infants are more likely than older children or adults to develop complications. The most common complication of pertussis is bacterial pneumonia. Rare complications include seizures, inflammation of the brain, and death.
What are the long term effects of pertussis?
In the years following her discharge, researchers chronicled a long list of ongoing care and complications. Two months after discharge, for example, her medical records reported substantial lung scarring, likely related to a prolonged need for mechanical ventilation during her hospitalization.
What is the most common cause of death in pertussis?
The most common complication, and the cause of most pertussis-related deaths, is secondary bacterial pneumonia. Young infants are at highest risk for developing pertussis-associated complications.
What parts of the body are affected by pertussis?
Pertussis, a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system.
Does pertussis cause brain damage?
Timed observational, case-controlled, and prospective cohort studies have not shown evidence of brain damage from pertussis vaccine.
Can whooping cough cause permanent lung damage?
Childhood (and sometimes adult) lung infections such as tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough and pneumonia can leave behind areas of damaged lung with bronchiectasis.
Who is most at risk of pertussis?
Babies younger than 1 year old are most at risk for serious complications from pertussis. Pregnant women are not at increased risk for serious disease. However, experts consider those in their third trimester to be at increased risk since they could expose their newborn to pertussis.
Who does pertussis affect the most?
At present, the age groups with the most pertussis diagnoses are infants below one year of age, and adolescents between 10 and 20 years of age. All those not vaccinated against pertussis with the recommended number of doses of vaccine are at risk, regardless of age.
How is pertussis diagnosed?
You should test with PCR from NP specimens taken at 0 to 3 weeks following cough onset. PCR may also provide accurate results for up to 4 weeks. After the fourth week of cough, the amount of bacterial DNA in the nasopharynx rapidly diminishes, which increases the risk of obtaining falsely-negative results.
What are the 3 stages of whooping cough?
Pertussis is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. This disease has 3 stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent.
Can whooping cough turn into pneumonia?
Whooping cough can last up to 10 weeks and can lead to pneumonia and other complications. The symptoms of whooping cough may look like other medical conditions. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis.
Where is pertussis most common?
The states with the highest rates of pertussis include Vermont, Wisconsin, Alaska and Maine. Pertussis is more commonly known as whooping cough. It is a respiratory disease that causes uncontrollable coughing. Whooping cough is highly contagious, but deaths are rare.
How long does it take to fully recover from whooping cough?
It usually takes about seven to 10 days after being exposed to the infection to start showing symptoms. Full recovery from whooping cough may take two to three months.
Does whooping cough ever go away?
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly infectious disease that you may pass on without even knowing you have it. Once infected, it can take from three to six months to recover with treatment. With the proper treatment, most people recover and have no lasting effects.
Can whooping cough last for years?
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It causes repeated coughing bouts that can last for two to three months or more, and can make babies and young children in particular very ill.