Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious and potentially serious infection, especially in children. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. In recent years, due to decreased vaccination coverage or waning vaccine effectiveness over time, cases of whooping cough have begun to reemerge not only among children but also in adolescents and adults.
This article provides extensive information about whooping cough, explaining in detail the symptoms of the disease, the methods of whooping cough analysis for correct diagnosis, and most importantly, effective ways to treat and prevent whooping cough. Knowledge about whooping cough disease helps prevent serious complications of the disease.
What is Whooping Cough?
It is important to know that whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract. The disease is easily transmitted through airborne droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Whooping cough typically develops in three stages, each with its own duration and set of symptoms.
Whooping cough is especially dangerous for newborns and unvaccinated infants, as in this age group, coughing fits can lead to breathing pauses (apnea) and complications that may result in death. In adolescents and adults, the disease usually manifests as a milder but prolonged cough, which can make them a source of infection for surrounding children.
What Are the Causes of Whooping Cough?
The causative agent of whooping cough is a small, aerobic bacterium called Bordetella pertussis. This bacterium attaches to the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and releases toxins. These toxins are responsible for causing inflammation in the airways and triggering severe coughing fits.
Stages of Infection:
- Incubation period: Symptoms of whooping cough begin to appear within 5 to 10 days (sometimes 4 to 21 days) after infection. There are no symptoms during this period.
- Catarrhal Stage (Contagious Period): Lasting 1 to 2 weeks, this stage resembles a common cold but is the most contagious phase of whooping cough.
- Paroxysmal phase (Coughing attacks): May last from 1 month to 10 weeks. Severe and characteristic whooping cough attacks are observed during this phase.
What are the Main Symptoms of Whooping Cough?
The symptoms of whooping cough vary depending on the stage of the disease. People often mistake the initial symptoms for those of a common cold, but over time, the cough changes its character and produces the sounds that define the disease.
Symptoms of Whooping Cough by Stage:
1. Catarrhal period (Beginning):
- Mild cold symptoms (runny nose, sneezing).
- Mild whooping cough (dry cough).
- Sometimes low-grade fever.
2. Paroxysmal period (Exacerbation):
- Severe, continuous, and uncontrollable attacks of whooping cough. During these attacks, the patient has difficulty breathing.
- At the end of the attack, a characteristic swallowing sound is heard. It is this sound that gave the disease its name, whooping cough.
- Vomiting after coughing attacks.
- In infants, instead of coughing attacks, short periods of breathing (apnea) may be observed.
In adults and vaccinated adolescents, whooping cough symptoms may sometimes be less severe than those described above. However, severe coughing fits that disturb sleep and last more than two weeks should raise suspicion of whooping cough.
What are the tests for whooping cough?
A whooping cough test provides more reliable results, especially when performed during the first two weeks of the illness. Although doctors usually diagnose whooping cough based on the characteristic cough sound, laboratory tests are important to confirm the diagnosis.
Main Diagnostic Methods:
- PCR Test (Polymerase Chain Reaction): This is the fastest and most reliable method for diagnosing whooping cough. A sample is collected from the nasal and throat area using a swab, and the bacterial DNA is detected. This test provides the best results in the early stages of the disease, when the whooping cough bacteria are active.
- Bacterial Culture: This test involves collecting a sample and growing the bacteria in a laboratory setting. It takes longer but is highly specific and helps confirm the diagnosis.
- Serological Tests: These tests check for the presence of antibodies to the bacteria in the blood. They are useful in the later stages of the disease (when the whooping cough has passed the catarrhal stage).
Prevention and Protective Measures Against Whooping Cough
Treatment of whooping cough is primarily carried out with antibiotics, aiming to reduce the duration of contagiousness and prevent complications.
Treatment
1. Antibiotics: Antibiotics prescribed in the early stages of the disease (1-2 weeks) can help to kill the bacteria, shorten the course of the disease, and reduce the risk of infection
2. Supportive Care: Antibiotics do not immediately stop coughing attacks. Therefore, supportive care includes:
Humidification of the room air.
Plenty of fluid intake.
Frequent feeding in small portions (to reduce the risk of vomiting).
Note: Common cough medicines (cough suppressants) that stop coughing fits are usually not effective for whooping cough and can sometimes be harmful.
Protection and Prevention Ways
The most effective and basic way to protect against whooping cough is vaccination.
- Childhood Vaccine (DTaP): Children usually receive this vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months, at 15–18 months, and again at 4–6 years of age.
- Booster Dose (Tdap): As the vaccine’s protection decreases over time, a booster dose (Tdap) is recommended for adolescents (11–12 years old) and adults.
- Vaccination During Pregnancy: Administering the Tdap vaccine between the 27th and 36th weeks of pregnancy transfers antibodies from mother to baby, helping protect the newborn against whooping cough during the first months of life.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is not a simple cough; it is a serious bacterial infection that can lead to severe complications. Everyone should be aware of whooping cough, pay attention to its symptoms, and follow the vaccination schedule closely - especially to protect infants. Timely testing for whooping cough helps detect the disease at an early stage. Most importantly, timely vaccination is the most reliable guarantee of protection against whooping cough.