Pertussis, better known as whooping cough, is a respiratory infection that comes from the Bordella perstussis bacterium. It's a very contagious disease and is common among children. Teenagers and adults are still prone to getting it though, especially when their vaccination against it has worn off. Pertussis can be very dangerous, but is treatable when caught early.
The disease was known to have caused a large number of deaths before it was isolated in 1906 and a vaccine was developed. The vaccine is given through several injections, and is usually given to a patient together with vaccines for diptheria and tuberculosis. The three are collectively known as DPT, and is the most common vaccine given to children today.
There are other forms of the DPT vaccine because there have been children adversely affected by this. Teenagers are also advised to have the pertussis vaccination again because it wears off after the children reach their teenage years.
When you get pertussis, it takes about seven to thirty days to incubate. It has three developmental stages: the catarrhal stage, coughing, and the recovery stage. The first stage develops during the first two weeks of the disease. It has symptoms that are common to all respiratory diseases, like runny nose, slight fever, sneezing, and mild coughing.
It is during the second stage when people are usually diagnosed. The cough becomes worse and the patients usually have random bursts of violent coughing because the body can't get rid of the mucus in the airways anymore. After the coughing attack, the person's inhalation comes with a whistling or whooping sound. Breathing is also difficult during this stage.
The final stage, or the recovery stage, can take another three or even ten weeks. The pertussis gradually fades away, breathing becomes easier and the coughing becomes milder. The effects of the disease can make the person feel tired and uncomfortable.
It is best if you get the disease treated immediately and not wait for the final stage. The usual treatment includes antibiotics and a lot of rest. Pertussis can lead to other severe diseases, like asthma and malnutrition, so it's important to treat it immediately.
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