Whooping cough Custom Search Whooping cough or pertussis is an infections disease of the respiratory tract caused by a bacterium known as bordetella pertussis. The disease has become less common due to routine childhood immunization. But the immunity following immunization begins to wane after 5 years and infection can recur. Natural infection also confers immunity which lasts longer but re infection can occur which is usually milder. The disease is more severe in younger children. The organisms get attached to the lining of the respiratory tract and multiply. They produce many toxins which are responsible for the manifestations of the disease. Symptoms and signs: The disease usually has a slow onset. It starts with non specific symptoms like cold, sneezing and cough. Fever is usually mild. After a varying period cough becomes paroxysmal characterized by forceful coughs ending with a loud sound during inspiration (the whoop-hence the name whooping cough). It is very common for the child to vomit after a bout of cough. The child gets exhausted by the severe cough. This stage of paroxysmal cough may last for several weeks. Laboratory findings: The total white blood cell count is almost always elevated. About 75 percent of the total white blood cells are lymphocytes. Custom Search
Page last reviewed on 2nd January 2011
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