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whooping cough

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Overview

Common Name whooping cough
Scientific Name Pertussis
Disease Type Bacterial infection
Host Type human
ICD Code A37
Distribution Worldwide; endemic with periodic epidemics every 3-5 years; resurgence in vaccinated populations due to waning immunity

Causative Agent

Causative Agent Bordetella pertussis
Transmission Airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing; highly contagious

Symptoms

Symptoms Description Initial cold-like symptoms followed by severe coughing fits ending in a high-pitched 'whoop' sound, vomiting after coughing, fatigue, and in infants, apnea or cyanosis. The paroxysmal stage can last weeks.
Diagnosis Clinical presentation, PCR testing of nasopharyngeal swab, culture, or serology

Treatment

Conventional Treatment Macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin) if given early; supportive care including hydration, oxygen, and hospitalization for severe cases especially in infants
Herbal Treatment In traditional herbal medicine: Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as antispasmodic and expectorant; Wild Cherry bark (Prunus serotina) for cough suppression; Elecampane (Inula helenium) for respiratory support; Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) as demulcent; Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) for soothing irritated airways. In TCM: herbs that clear heat, resolve phlegm and stop cough such as Xing Ren (apricot seed), Zi Wan (purple aster root). In Ayurveda: Sitopaladi churna or herbs like Vasaka (Adhatoda vasica) for respiratory infections.
Prevention Vaccination with DTaP or Tdap vaccines; booster doses; isolation of infected individuals; good respiratory hygiene
Prognosis Excellent with early treatment in healthy individuals; higher risk of complications (pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy, death) in unvaccinated infants under 6 months

Additional Information

History Described by Baillou in 1578; causative bacterium isolated by Bordet and Gengou in 1906; whole-cell vaccine developed in 1930s; acellular vaccine introduced in 1990s
Reference CDC Pink Book; WHO Pertussis Fact Sheet; Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA. Vaccines. 7th ed.
URL https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html

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