Whooping Cough Disease

• Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is a respiratory system illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. This eMedTV article provides an overview of whooping cough, including information about its symptoms, complications, and treatment options.

• Causes of Whooping Cough

Causes of whooping cough involve infection with Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) bacteria. This eMedTV resource explains how the bacteria cause whooping cough and includes information on how the bacteria are transmitted.

• Contagious Period for Whooping Cough

The contagious period for whooping cough lasts as long as an infected person has symptoms of the illness. As this eMedTV article explains, however, a person with whooping cough is often most contagious during the first three weeks of symptoms.

• Whooping Cough Symptoms

With whooping cough, symptoms range from those seen with a cold or flu to severe episodes of coughing. This eMedTV segment explores the three general stages of symptoms associated with whooping cough and defines the incubation period for the illness.

• Whooping Cough Diagnosis

As explained in this eMedTV resource, making a whooping cough diagnosis often involves ruling out other conditions that may be causing the patient's symptoms, such as bronchitis. This article outlines the steps involved in diagnosing whooping cough.

• Whooping Cough Treatment

As this eMedTV Web page explains, whooping cough treatment usually involves antibiotics along with supportive care to relieve symptoms of the illness. This article takes a detailed look at aspects of treating whooping cough.

• Whooping Cough Complications

In cases of whooping cough, complications may include pneumonia, difficulty breathing, and seizures. This eMedTV segment lists potential complications of whooping cough in adults and explains the severity of complications that may occur in infants.

• DTaP

DTaP is a vaccine used to prevent bacterial infections that cause diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. This eMedTV resource further describes DTaP and offers information about vaccination schedules and precautions to be aware of with DTaP.

• Whooping Cough in Infants

Whooping cough in infants can be very serious; without proper treatment, the illness can even be fatal. This eMedTV Web page discusses the prevalence of whooping cough among infants and outlines the vaccination schedule to help prevent the illness.

• Whooping Cough in Adults

Cases of whooping cough in adults have increased dramatically in recent years. This eMedTV article looks at some of the differences between how whooping cough affects children and adults. Symptoms of the infection tend to be less severe in adults.

• Whooping Cough Statistics

According to whooping cough statistics, a total of 25,827 cases of the illness were reported in 2004. This eMedTV article offers statistics on whooping cough in the pre-vaccine and post-vaccine eras.