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Whooping cough

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pertussis AND prevention

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CDC pertussis whooping cough symptoms treatment postexposure prophylaxis vaccination

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is most dangerous in young babies, especially those under 6 months.
Typical course
  • Begins like a common cold: runny nose, mild fever, mild cough.
  • After 1 to 2 weeks, coughing can become severe and occur in repeated, rapid fits.
  • A high-pitched “whoop” when breathing in may follow a fit, but it is often absent in infants, adolescents, and adults.
  • Vomiting, exhaustion, or difficulty catching the breath after coughing are common.
  • The cough can persist for weeks to months. The CDC clinical overview describes these catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent stages.
When to seek urgent care Seek emergency assessment for an infant or anyone with pauses in breathing, blue/gray lips or skin, severe breathing difficulty, dehydration, seizures, or inability to feed. Babies may have apnea without the typical whoop.
Diagnosis and treatment Clinicians typically test a nasopharyngeal swab, often with PCR. Antibiotics, usually a macrolide such as azithromycin, are most useful early and reduce transmission; later they may not shorten the cough much. The CDC treatment guidance also advises treating high-risk patients or suspected cases promptly, sometimes before test results return.
Prevention Vaccination is the main protection:
  • Children receive DTaP doses.
  • Adolescents and adults should receive Tdap according to their local schedule.
  • Tdap is recommended during every pregnancy, ideally at 27 to 36 weeks, to protect newborns.
  • Close contacts of a case, particularly people around infants or pregnant people, may need preventive antibiotics. See CDC prevention guidance.
If you or a child has a prolonged cough with coughing fits, vomiting after coughing, or exposure to a confirmed case, contact a clinician promptly and avoid close contact with infants until assessed.

Whooping cough according to book of pediatrics india

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