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Whooping cough
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, typically manifests as paroxysmal coughing. During the acute phase, the cough is spasmodic, and some patients may produce sounds similar to a dog's bark or a rooster's crow. This type of cough can lead to complications such as a runny nose, tearing, facial flushing, red ears, and vomiting. Diagnosis should be confirmed through routine examination of secretions. During the acute phase, symptomatic treatment should be administered, along with the selection of macrolide antibiotics to eliminate the pathogenic bacteria, which are mostly due to infection by Corynebacterium diphtheriae or Bordetella pertussis. Patients should adjust their mindset, drink plenty of warm water, and maintain clean indoor air.
What does "one hundred days" in whooping cough refer to?
The clinical term "whooping cough" is so named because the term "hundred days" refers to the duration of the cough, symbolizing that the cough lasts a long time, the disease course is prolonged, and it tends to recur. It doesn’t necessarily mean that one will cough for exactly one hundred days. One should relax and have the correct understanding. For treating such diseases, sensitive antibiotics should be used promptly, along with symptomatic treatment. Blood tests such as a complete blood count and C-reactive protein should be conducted, along with chest X-ray, and sputum pathogen culture for definitive diagnosis, to ensure early detection and treatment.
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.
How long is the incubation period for whooping cough?
Once the body is infected with the bacterium that causes whooping cough, the incubation period of this disease is about one to two weeks. The contagion is strongest within two to three weeks after becoming ill. This disease is a respiratory infectious disease, mainly transmitted through airborne droplets, with children under five being the most susceptible to infection. Clinically, vaccination is primarily used to prevent the occurrence of the disease. Once infected, symptomatic treatment is needed, and one can also choose macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and erythromycin, for treatment.