Can whooping cough be cured?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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Pertussis, the disease, can be cured with timely and proper treatment, so there's no need to fear. It's important to clear any concerns and understand this correctly. Pertussis is primarily an acute infectious respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis or Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The main clinical approach is to prevent the disease by administering the DTP vaccine. Once infected, the disease is characterized by typical paroxysmal bouts of coughing, including spasmodic coughing, sometimes accompanied by a crowing inspiratory stridor, and in some cases, symptoms resembling a barking cough. It is called pertussis because the course of the disease is long, but there should be no excessive fear as it can be completely cured with prompt treatment.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How is whooping cough transmitted?

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is primarily caused by the infection of Bordetella pertussis. The main transmission routes are through the respiratory tract or via close contact, particularly in classrooms where young children are present, which can easily lead to cross-infection. The disease has an incubation period of about three to seven days, and in some cases, it can range from two to three weeks. Children under the age of five have the highest incidence rate. Clinically, vaccination is recommended for prevention. Once infected, the early stages of the disease resemble those of a common cold, with typical symptoms being paroxysmal, spasmodic coughing.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Is the pertussis vaccine a live vaccine?

The pertussis vaccine is a type of attenuated live vaccine, which clinically is mainly part of a combination vaccine that includes pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus, commonly referred to as the DTP vaccine. Normally, a baby should receive the first dose at three months of age, followed by the second dose in the fourth and fifth months, as part of basic immunization. Between the age of eighteen months and two years, another dose is administered to boost immunity, which after producing lifelong antibodies, prevents reinfection with the disease.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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How to determine whether it is the paroxysmal stage or the recovery stage of pertussis?

After the incubation period, typical whooping cough goes through three clinical stages. The first stage is the catarrhal stage, also called the pre-paroxysmal stage, during which the infectivity is the strongest. If treated promptly during this stage, the progress of the disease can be controlled. If the catarrhal stage is not effectively controlled, it then enters the paroxysmal stage. During the paroxysmal stage, the patient will experience episodic spasmodic coughing, with more severe episodes at night. During spasms, there will be neck vein distension, swollen and congested eyelids and face, and cyanosis of the lips. This stage can last up to two months. After the paroxysmal stage follows the convalescent stage, where the episodic spasmodic coughing gradually decreases and becomes less severe.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to diagnose the incubation period of pertussis

The incubation period of whooping cough generally has no autonomous discomfort symptoms. If there is close contact with a patient and the body lacks antibodies, suspecting the presence of this pathogen, corresponding auxiliary examinations can be conducted for diagnosis. Bacteriological examinations and fluorescent antibody methods can be performed, using nasopharyngeal swab secretions smear or nasal mucosa impression smear fluorescent antibody staining to detect specific antigens, with an early positive rate of 75%-85%. Complement fixation tests in serology can also be conducted to detect specific antibodies, effectively aiding in the diagnosis of atypical cases.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Characteristics of whooping cough

Whooping cough is a respiratory infectious disease characterized by paroxysmal coughing and spasmodic cough. Some patients may exhibit a crowing sound similar to a rooster's crow or a bark-like cough. Adult patients may experience symptoms such as facial redness, runny nose, and vomiting. Diagnostic confirmation requires appropriate auxiliary tests. Once diagnosed, it is recommended to undergo isolation treatment and choose a sufficient amount of effective antibiotics to eradicate the Bordetella pertussis bacteria.