News Excerpt: 

Whooping cough outbreak has left health authorities across different countries worried. Apart from several deaths reported in China, cases have also been reported in the US, UK, Philippines, Czech Republic and the Netherlands. More common in children and infants, this deadly infection can be a cause of concern in the coming days.

What is whooping cough?

• Whooping cough, also called pertussis,

• • Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection, caused by bacteria Bordetella pertussis, and is common in infants and young children.
  • It usually causes lengthy and repeated bouts of coughing. 
  • These coughing episodes can continue for weeks or even months after first developing symptoms of the illness.
  • The infection transmits easily from person to person mainly through respiratory droplets produced by the infected person while coughing or sneezing.
• The symptoms include runny nose, dry cough, which classically sounds like a whoop, 
  • Fever, sneezing, watery eyes, vomiting etc.
•  Prevention is through vaccination.
  • The three primary doses are given at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, followed by boosters. 
  • The general measures should always be considered like Hand hygiene and covering the mouth if a child is sneezing or coughing.

Symptoms of whooping cough

• "Bacteria damages cilia leading to bronchial inflammation and excessive mucus production, 
• It causes the characteristic symptoms of rapid cough, common cold and low-grade fever, sneezing, watery eyes, vomiting.
• A few serious complications like pneumonia, seizures and brain damage can also occur with whooping cough infection.
• The disease can severely affect infants and young children. 
• If left untreated, whooping cough can lead to long-term disability or death.

How's it diagnosed?

• Diagnosis is usually based on coughing fits in presence of known exposure to disease.
• Laboratory tests, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture of respiratory secretions, 
• It can confirm the diagnosis by detecting the presence of Bordetella pertussis bacteria.

Prevention

• Vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent this infection. 
  • DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis) vaccine is recommended for children.
  • Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis)  vaccines can be given to adults that provide protection against pertussis.
    • Adults between the ages of 19 and 64 should receive a one-time booster pertussis vaccine called the Tdap vaccine.
• "Preventing whooping cough is essential using DTaP vaccine, which is recommended for children at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age, with a booster dose at 4-6 years old.
  • In addition, good hand hygiene, covering face while coughing/sneezing and avoiding close contact with sick individuals can help reduce the spread,
• The DTaP vaccine is routinely administered to infants and young children in multiple doses, 
  • Starting at 2 months of age as it protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. 
    • Boosters are recommended for adolescents and adults.

• Pregnant women also can receive the Tdap(Tetanus, Diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis) vaccine, which provides additional protection against pertussis.

• • Pertussis-containing vaccines are safe even for expectant mothers. 
    • Pregnant women are advised to receive the whooping cough vaccination between 20 and 32 weeks to boost their protection against whooping cough. 
  • Vaccination at this stage of pregnancy can be beneficial for the fetus as the mother passes on whooping cough antibodies to their growing baby.
    • This will provide the baby protection after birth — even before they are old enough to get immunized.