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Germ Profile: Bordetella PertussisPertussis is a highly contagious illness that causes spells of uncontrollable coughing. Often these coughing spells end with a deep “whooping” sound as the person tries to catch their breath. Pertussis is a serious illness that can be fatal in infants. There are effective pertussis vaccines. Unfortunately, outbreaks of this preventable disease are on the rise, due in part to the fact that many children are not vaccinated or are not fully vaccinated. |
SeasonalityOutbreaks are most common in late summer and early fall. Scientists have also noted that the bacteria tend to run in a 3-year to 5-year cycles within a particular area. Signs and SymptomsWhen symptoms first start, pertussis tends to look a lot like a common cold, causing a runny nose and perhaps a slight fever and mild cough. The severe coughing spells begin a week or so later. In children, a coughing spell usually ends with the characteristic "whoop" noise, the sound of the child trying to catch his or her breath. Babies under 6 months may not produce this “whooping” even though they may cough so hard they vomit or lose consciousness. Infection PeriodSymptoms pertussis typically develop between 7 and 10 days after being exposed to (or infected with) the virus but can range from 4 to 24 days. How It's SpreadPertussis is highly contagious. The bacteria spread person-to-person through coughs, sneezes, laughs – anything that produces a spray that can be breathed in by someone else. Experts estimate that if one person has pertussis, anyone in the household who isn’t immunized against the illness has an 80% chance of getting it, too. Diagnosis and TreatmentProviders usually diagnose pertussis by taking a medical history and doing a physical exam. The provider may also choose to verify the diagnosis by testing a sample of mucus. Treatment may include antibiotics, and severe illness might require monitoring and treatment in a hospital. (Note that infants 6 months and younger with pertussis will need hospital treatment.) What can I do today?Practice prevention and stop the spread:
Call your child's doctor if you notice:
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