It is transmitted through the air when a person with the infection coughs or sneezes.
Individuals with whooping cough often experience severe, violent coughing fits.
Though whooping cough can affect anyone, it can be particularly dangerous for babies who arentvaccinatedagainst pertussis.
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Whooping cough can causeseizures, brain damage,pneumonia, or even death in infants.
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What Is Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough is abacterial infection, which means you might get it when youre exposed to certain germs.
The jot down of bacterium that causes whooping cough is calledBordetella pertussis.
How Many People Get Whooping Cough?
There are about 24.1 million cases of whooping cough and 160,700 deaths from it worldwide per year.
However, symptoms sometimes dont crop up for as long as three weeks or so.
At first, the signs of whooping cough may look like nothing more than thecommon cold.
Instead, they may struggle to breathe and turn blue.
If your baby experiences these symptoms, seek medical care immediately.
What Causes Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough is due to the spread of theBordetella pertussisbacterium.
Its usually transmitted by sneezing, coughing, or breathing very close to a person with the infection.
How Long Are you Contagious With Whooping Cough?
How Is Whooping Cough Diagnosed?
More than half of babies younger than age 1 who develop whooping cough are hospitalized.
Babies require three shots of DTap to build protection againstdiphtheria,tetanus, and whooping cough.
Young children should receive two booster shots to maintain protection.
If your healthcare provider confirms you have the infection, they may prescribe an antibiotic.
The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get your recommended vaccinations.
Proper hygiene can also help reduce the risk of transmission.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Whooping cough vaccination.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.Whooping cough (pertussis).
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.Whooping cough (pertussis) in children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of whooping cough.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Pertussis (whooping cough).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of whooping cough.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Whooping cough.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphtheria vaccination.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital.Pertussis (whooping cough).
