Best Defense for Pertussis: Vaccination

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is still around. Worldwide each year, there are about 24.1 million cases of it and about 167,000 deaths from it.

Outbreaks still occur in the U.S. and the disease could potentially be deadly even here.

The bacteria that causes whooping cough is Bordetella pertussis. It clings to the cilia that line some of the cells in our upper respiratory tract.

These finger-like microscopic projections help remove harmful substances from our airways.

The bacteria release toxins that damage the cilia and make the upper airway swell.

The infection often starts with cold-like symptoms: a mild cough, low-grade fever, and a runny nose.

Babies may sometimes have apnea. They stop breathing and can even turn blue.

About 1-2 weeks into the illness, the real coughing starts. The person with pertussis will have a coughing fit with seemingly endless short coughs that are then followed by a frightening inspiratory “whoop.”

Patients may seem fine in between these fits, but they can also act very tired and even vomit some.

These episodes can go on for 10 weeks. This is why pertussis is sometimes called “the 100 day cough.”

Complications from whooping cough in infants can include pneumonia, apnea episodes, seizures, brain inflammation and even death.

Teenagers and adults may have weight loss, loss of bladder control, passing out, pneumonia, and broken ribs (from the cough).

Someone with pertussis is contagious for the first two weeks after he starts coughing. Antibiotic treatment may shorten this some. The infected person spreads it to others by sneezing, coughing or just being in close contact with them.

The disease can be diagnosed with a lab test, usually taken from the back of the upper airway.

The best defense against pertussis is to be vaccinated against it beforehand.

The series is started around two months of age. Currently, five immunizations are recommended to be given over time to a child before she starts kindergarten.

A small amount of pertussis vaccine is added to the tetanus booster that is recommended for older children, adults, and even pregnant women to help protect their babies after birth.

While it is true that no vaccine is 100% effective, children immunized against pertussis are a lot less likely to come down with whooping cough.

Even if they do, the symptoms from it are milder, the course of it is shorter, and the complications from it are less likely.