PERTUSSIS

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PERTUSSIS

• Whooping Cough

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Pertussis

• Whooping cough
• It is a highly contagious respiratory tract
  infection
• Advanced stages may lead to a high pitched intake
  of air that make a whoop sound

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Symptoms

• Symptoms take 3 to 12 days to appear
• Stage1
• Dry cough, sneezing, runny nose, mild fever
• Lasts up to 2 weeks
• Most likely to be spread in this stage
• Stage 2
• Uncontrollable coughing fits
• Lasts 2-4 weeks
• Stage 3
• Cough may get louder
• May have coughing fits on and off for weeks

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Causes

• Bodetella Pertussis

• Caused by bacteria
• Interferes with your respiratory tracts ability
  to sweep away germs
• Creates thick mucus that causes coughing

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Bodetella Pertussis

• The bacteria attached to the cilia of the
  respiratory epithelial cells
• Toxins produced by the bacteria paralyze cilia

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Risk Factors

• There is a vaccine for whooping cough
• Teens and young adults whose vaccine has worn off
• Young children who have not yet finished their
  vaccines
• Infants 6 months and younger are at greater risk

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Complications

• In Adults

• Usually no complications
• Maybe be more dangerous for the elderly
• Most complications arise from strenuous coughing
• Bruising or cracked ribs
• Abdominal hernias
• Broken blood vessels in the skin or whites of eyes

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Complications

• In Infants

• Complications are much more severe
• May be life threatening for children under 6
  months
• Children may get
• Ear infections
• Pneumonia
• Slowed or stopped breathing
• Dehydration
• Seizures
• Brain damage

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Diagnosis

• Nose Culture

• Just describe your symptoms to a doctor
• Blood tests
• chest x-ray
• Nose or throat culture

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Treatment

• Infants and elderly are usually hospitalized
• Antibiotics are given
• Cough relief