Whooping Cough or Pertussis

whooping cough

an acute and highly contagious bacterial disease that affects the respiratory system

whooping cough bacteria

Bordetella pertussis

Bordetella pertussis

Gram negative coccobacillus

Obligate aerobe

Fastidious

whipping cough history

Outbreaks described since 16th century

Discovery of cause in 1906

• Jules Bordet

Epidemics every 3-5 years

Incubation period for whooping cough

7-10 days

phase 1 of whooping cough

(Catarrhal)

• Cold-like symptoms

phase 2 of whooping cough

(Paroxysmal)

• Severe coughing “attack”, whooping sound, & vomiting

phase 3 of whooping cough

(Convalescent)

• Recession of previous symptoms

what does Bordetella pertussis attach to

respiratory cilia

what does Bordetella pertussis produce

pertussis toxin(AB type)

what does pertussis toxin do

paralyze cilia

what cant patients clear

pulmonary secretions

Pertussis Complications

• 25% develop pneumonia

• 4% develop seizures

• 1% suffer permanent brain damage

• 1% die

Whooping Cough Reservoirs

humans (no animals/insects)

• Mainly adolescents or adults

whooping cough vectors

no vectors

how is whooping cough transmitted

in air via respiratory droplets

• Mainly coughing and sneezing

who can get whopping cough

Anyone can get it – not vaccinated or improper vaccination or not

100% efficacy for vaccine

who is most adversely effected by whooping cough

Children under the age of 1 and seniors

Adolescent/adults partially protected by vaccine

milder symptoms

whooping cough treatment

rest and proper nutrition

antibiotic of choice

case isolation

antibiotics for whooping cough

Erythromycin (protein synthesis inhibitor)

• Symptoms linger due to the pertussis toxin even though the infection is cleared.

macrolide resistance

what is emerging for whooping cough

macrolide resistance

How is Whooping Cough Prevented?

• Immunization

• Commercially available vaccine mid 1930’s

• Widely used in mid 1940’s

• Pediatric formulation (DTaP)

• Adolescent/Adult formulation (Tdap)

number of cases before and after vaccines

• Before vaccine: 200,000 cases/year in United States

• After vaccine: Average of 2,900 cases/year in United States from 1980-1990

cases of whooping cough are…

increasing since 1990