Whooping cough

Some people get a very bad cough.

It can sound like a loud whoop. This happens when the person breathes in. This cough can last for many weeks. It can even last 100 days.

Tiny germs cause this sickness. The germs spread when people sneeze or cough. A shot can help keep you safe.

It is good to stay healthy!

Whooping cough is a sickness caused by tiny germs. These germs are called Bordetella pertussis.

The germs spread easily through coughs and sneezes.

At first, the sickness feels like a cold. You might have a runny nose or a fever. Soon, the cough becomes very strong. It can come in fits that are hard to stop. When a person breathes in after a cough, they may make a loud "whoop" sound.

This cough can last for 10 weeks or more. Because of this, some people call it the "100-day cough." The coughing can be so hard that it makes a person vomit.

Babies are at the most risk. Some babies may not cough at all. Instead, they may have trouble breathing.

Doctors can help stop the spread with a vaccine. A vaccine is a shot that helps your body stay safe. It is best to get these shots when you are very young. Doctors can also use medicine called antibiotics to help. These medicines work best if they are taken early in the sickness.

Whooping cough is a very contagious sickness. It is also called pertussis or the 100-day cough. This disease is caused by tiny germs called Bordetella pertussis.

These germs spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is a serious illness that can affect people of all ages. Many people in the world can get it. In 2015, about 16.3 million people were infected.

The sickness happens in a few different steps. First, it feels like a common cold. A person might have a fever or a runny nose. This is called the catarrhal stage. Soon, the person starts having violent coughing fits. These fits can be so hard that they cause vomiting or even broken ribs.

After a coughing fit, the person may make a high-pitched "whoop" sound as they breathe in. This stage can last for many weeks. In some babies, the cough is not even there. Instead, they might just stop breathing for a little while.

Scientists have learned a lot about this germ over time. People first described outbreaks of this sickness in the 16th century. Later, in 1906, the specific bacterium was finally discovered.

By the 1940s, a vaccine became available to help people. This vaccine is a very important tool for staying healthy. It helps the body learn how to fight the germs. Even though the vaccine is helpful, the germs can still change over time.

There are many important facts about how doctors treat the illness. Doctors can test a sample from the back of the nose or throat. They use tests like a culture or PCR to find the germs.

If caught early, doctors can use antibiotics to help. Medicines like azithromycin or erythromycin are often used. These work best if started within three weeks of the first symptoms. For pregnant women or very young babies, doctors recommend starting them within six weeks.

We can think of the vaccine like a shield for the body. It helps protect people from getting very sick. Getting shots when you are a baby is a big part of this protection.

Even if someone has had a vaccine, they might still get a milder version. They can also still spread the germs to others. This is why it is important for adults and older children to get extra doses. Keeping everyone protected helps keep the most vulnerable babies safe from the disease.

Whooping cough, scientifically known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial disease. It is often called the "100-day cough" because the coughing fits can last for many weeks. This illness is caused by a bacterium called *Bordetella pertussis*.

It spreads easily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While people of all ages can be affected, the disease is especially dangerous for infants. Because it can lead to severe breathing problems, it remains a major focus for global public health.

The biological mechanism of the disease begins when the bacteria are inhaled into the respiratory tract. Once inside, the bacteria use surface proteins like pertactin and filamentous hemagglutinin to adhere to the ciliated epithelium in the nasopharynx. This is the layer of cells in the upper throat that uses tiny hairs to clear mucus.

After attaching, the bacteria multiply and release several dangerous toxins. One specific substance, tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), kills the ciliated cells in the airway. This prevents the body from clearing away mucus and debris, which contributes to the characteristic cough. Another substance, the pertussis toxin, can cause lymphocytosis, which is an increase in white blood cells. This can lead to pulmonary hypertension, a serious condition that is a major cause of death in pertussis cases.

The illness typically progresses through three distinct clinical stages. The first is the catarrhal stage, which feels like a common cold with a runny nose and mild fever. After one or two weeks, the patient enters the paroxysmal stage. This stage is defined by uncontrollable, violent coughing fits. About 50% of people in this stage will make a high-pitched "whoop" sound when they try to inhale after a fit.

The final stage is the convalescent stage, where the coughing fits gradually decrease. This stage usually lasts between one and four weeks, though coughs can return during future respiratory infections.

Medical history shows how much our understanding of pertussis has changed. Outbreaks of the disease were first described as far back as the 16th century. However, the specific bacterium responsible for the illness was not discovered until 1906.

A major turning point occurred in the 1940s when the pertussis vaccine became available. This development transformed how society manages the disease. In 2002 alone, the vaccine was estimated to have saved half a million lives. Despite these advances, the disease has seen a resurgence in the 21st century due to waning immunity and bacterial mutations.

The impact of pertussis is significant on a global scale. In 2015, an estimated 16.3 million people worldwide were infected. While the number of deaths has dropped significantly from 138,000 in 1990 to 58,700 in 2015, the disease remains a threat.

For the most vulnerable, the risks are much higher. Approximately 50% of infected children under one year old require hospitalization. Furthermore, nearly 0.5%, or 1 in 200, of these young children die from the infection.

Doctors use several methods to diagnose the infection and provide treatment. They can collect a sample from the back of the nose and throat to test for the bacteria. This is often done through a culture or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

If caught early, antibiotics like azithromycin, erythromycin, or clarithromycin can be very effective. These medicines work best if started within three weeks of the first symptoms. For pregnant women and infants under one year old, doctors recommend starting antibiotics within six weeks of symptom onset. Antibiotics help by decreasing the time a person remains infectious, which prevents further spread.

Prevention through vaccination is the most effective way to control the spread of pertussis. The multi-component acellular pertussis vaccine is between 71% and 85% effective.

Because protection from the vaccine decreases over time, additional doses are often needed for older children and adults. Vaccination during pregnancy is also highly recommended because it protects infants during their most vulnerable early months. Even though vaccinated individuals may have much milder symptoms, they can still act as reservoirs and spread the bacteria to others. This makes widespread immunization essential for protecting the entire community.