Whooping Cough in Adults

Whooping Cough in Adults Whooping cough is a type of infection that is caused by Bordetella Pertussis. This bacterium spreads via contaminated droplets within the air that are produced when you come in close contact with an infected person or when they cough. The bacterium then attaches to the cells lining the airways where they multiply, causing symptoms. To make matters worse, whooping cough is not always detected because its symptoms are similar to those of the Common cold and Bronchitis.

Symptoms of Whooping Cough in Adults
Usually it will take six to twenty days for the symptoms associated with whooping cough to appear after the Bordetella pertussis bacterium infects a person. This period of time is referred to as the incubation period and after this, the whooping cough will usually develop in multiple stages. Mild symptoms will occur first and then there is a period including more severe symptoms followed by improvement.

Early Stage Symptoms
Adults with whooping cough will show very different symptoms from children. While children frequently produce the “whoop” sound while coughing, this is frequently absent from adults. Adults who develop the condition generally do so after having the common cold or bronchitis. Because of this, the early symptoms of whooping cough in adult are similar to those of the common cold including mild fever, Sneezing, dry cough, runny nose and Sore Throat.

Paroxysmal Stage Symptoms
The next stage is the paroxysmal stage of the whooping cough which includes an uncontrollable and phlegm-filled cough. Severe coughing fits at this time typically last two to three minutes and occur several times within a short period. The paroxysmal cough is frequently followed by vomiting, difficulty breathing, excessive drooling and teary eyes. These coughs usually occur at nightanddisrupt sleep. They can also lead to extreme tiredness as well as a lack of interest in food. In some cases, patients will develop more severe symptoms such as a hernia, rib fracture, or Urinary Incontinence.

Warning: You should always contact your doctor if a prolonged coughing spell has you or your child inhale with a whooping sound, turn blue or red, or vomit.

How to Deal with Whooping Cough in Adults


While it is common for children with whooping cough to require hospitalization, this is not true for adults. Generally, antibiotics are enough to handle this bacterial infection and the antibiotics will usually last about five days to completely eliminate the bacteria causing the infection.

Medications
Antibiotics are very useful at killing the bacteria behind whooping cough and therefore speeding up the recovery process. Sometimes family members are also prescribed the antibiotics to prevent infection. Unfortunately, there are not many methods of relieving the cough and over-the-counter medications for cough tend to be ineffective and therefore discouraged.

Home Remedies for Whooping Cough in Adults
In addition to medication, doctors may recommend that an adult with whooping cough changes certain elements of their diet and lifestyle.

1. Have More Rest.

Many people find it easier to rest and relax when they are in a dark, quiet, and cool bedroom.

2. Drink More Fluids.

You should also be sure to drink plenty of fluids such as water, soups and juice. It is especially important to check for Dehydration in sick children and signs of this include infrequent urination, crying without tears and dry lips.

3. Eat Smaller Meals

Sometimes having smaller but more frequent meals as opposed to larger ones will help reduce the risk of vomiting after a coughing fit. Additionally try to avoid dairy products and sugary foods as they can lead to increased coughing.

4. Clean and Vaporize the Room

Clean a patient’ room to make sure that it is free from irritants that could lead to coughing spells with particular culprits being fumes from the fireplace and tobacco smoke. Also try using a mist vaporizer as this will soothe the irritated lungs as well as loosen up the respiratory secretions. When using a vaporizer, be sure to carefully follow its directions so it remains clean. If there is no access to a vaporizer, you can temporarily ease breathing and clear the lungs with a warm bath or shower.

5. Garlic Juice

Consuming fresh garlic juice can also help you get over your whooping cough. To do so, extract the juice from garlic cloves by crushing them. Take two teaspoons of the juice twice daily.

6. Honey and Radish Juice

Crush some pieces of a fresh radish, squeezing out a teaspoon of the juice. Then add a bit of honey as well as a pinch of some rock salt to your juice, mixing everything together. Taking this mixture three times each day will help relieve the cough.

7. Ginger and Lemon

Ginger juice helps shorten the duration of your coughing bouts. Take a small fresh ginger root and cut it into thin sLices. Then put these slices as well as some rock salt into lemon juice, storing it in a container that is airtight. As soon as a coughing fit starts, suck on one of the ginger slices.

How to Prevent Whooping Cough
The very best method of preventing whooping cough is via the pertussis vaccine and doctors frequently give this vaccine with others that combat additional serious diseases like Tetanus and Diphtheria.

Age group	Description
Adolescents	Immunity from the vaccine tends to decrease by about age 11, you should have a booster shot at that point to protect from whooping cough as well as tetanus and diphtheria.
Adults	Certain versions of the 10-year diphtheria and tetanus vaccine also protect from whooping cough. This vaccine protects from the disease and reduces the risk of transmitting it to infants.
Pregnant women	The CDC recommends that pregnant women have a pertussis vaccine at some point between 27 and 36 weeks into their pregnancy. The protection may last the infant for his first few months after birth.

Infection prevention: To prevent infection, keep the patient in an isolated area until the infection goes away as this helps prevent the disease from spreading. Also be sure to cover your mouth when coughing and wash your hands frequently. Wear a mask if you have to be around others.

For more information about whooping cough such as the symptoms and how it spreads, youmaywatch the video below:

Is Whooping Cough Contagious?

Is Whooping Cough Contagious? Caused by the bacterium Bordetella Pertussis, pertussis or whooping cough leads to an infection in the respiratory system. It is more common in babies under the age of 6 months who have not received any vaccination and kids between 11 and 18 years of age whose immunity is no longer strong enough to prevent the infection.

When your child becomes infected, you will notice severe coughing spells with a "whooping" sound in the end. You can notice this sound when your child breathes in. There may also be some Common cold symptoms that go way in a couple of week but severe coughing may continue for up to 3 months.

Is Whooping Cough Contagious?
Yes, it can be very contagious and spread from person to person by Sneezing or coughing. You may even become infected if you share bathing space with someone with infection. Studies show that a person with pertussis infects 12 people on average.

What you should bear in mind though is that the condition is most contagious during the first stage, which lasts about 1-2 weeks long. And it may remain contagious a month after the cough starts.

What Are the Symptoms If You Were Infected?
Now that you know the answer to your question, "Is whooping cough contagious?" you may also want to learn how to tell if someone is already infected. It usually takes 7-10 days for symptoms to appear after you have contracted the infection. The incubation period can sometimes be as long as 21 days. There may be different symptoms in babies, young children and adults.

1. In Babies under the Age of 6 Months


If your baby is under 6 months of age and become infected, they may not whoop at all. They may, however, stop breathing, get exhausted from coughing, or appear to have a cold. You may find it difficult to feed them because of coughing, which will result in loss of weight.

2. In Older Babies and Young Children
The illness may work in three stages in young children.

• In the first stage, you will notice symptoms such as a runny nose and watery eyes with sneezing and mild fever. This continues for a couple of weeks or so.


• In the next stage, the cough becomes quite irritating and continues to get worse over the next couple of weeks. It is common for children to become red while coughing and they may even vomit food after the coughing.


• Then, the long recovery stage starts and the symptoms become less severe.

3. In Adults


Just like young children, adults will also experience symptoms of common cold first. These symptoms may include tiredness, low-grade fever, runny nose, and a mild cough. Before long, the cough will become severe. Many people have severe coughing fits and they gasp for breath between fits. It is also common to vomit after coughing fits and feeling exhausted.

Howto Reduce Your Risk of Being Infected
Is whooping cough contagious? Yes, it is. Can it be prevented? Yes, you can take steps to lower your risk for getting infected.

1. Vaccination


You should get the pertussis vaccine first and ensure that your children get it with vaccines for other serious diseases, including Tetanus and Diphtheria. It is important to start vaccination during infancy. Your child gets a series of five injections when they are 2 months old, 4 months old, 6 months old, 15-18 months old, and 4-6 years old.

It is also important to go for booster shots at certain ages. For instance:

• Adolescents: The vaccine becomes less effective after the age of 11, so it is important to have a booster shot by this age for better protection against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.


• Adults: Some specific varieties of the every-10-yeardiphatheria and tetanus vaccine prove beneficial against pertussis. The vaccine ensures you do not transmit whooping cough to infants.


• Pregnant women: Healthcare providers believe that pregnant women should get the vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to provide protection from pertussis to the infant.

It is essential for people who work in settings where they are close to babies and infants to get the vaccine. It is important because whooping cough can cause life-threatening complications in babies.

2.

Antibiotics
While getting vaccinated is one way to prevent whooping cough, it sometimes becomes important to take antibiotics to ensure you do not spread the disease. You already know the answer to, "Is whooping cough contagious?" so you have to take antibiotics if you live with someone who has pertussis.

3. Hygiene


It is important to practice good hygiene to ensure you do not spread the respiratory illnesses. Here are some steps to take:

• Be sure to cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough.


• Always put your used tissue in the trash basket.


• Do not cough in your hands, but cough into your elbow or upper sleeve.


• Be sure to wash your hands with water and soap for 20 seconds


• Make use of an alcohol-based hand rub if you do not have water and soap available.

Whooping Cough in Adults

Whooping Cough in Adults

Whooping cough is a type of infection that is caused by Bordetella Pertussis. This bacterium spreads via contaminated droplets within the air that are produced when you come in close contact with an infected person or when they cough. The bacterium then attaches to the cells lining the airways where they multiply, causing symptoms. To make matters worse, whooping cough is not always detected because its symptoms are similar to those of the Common Cold and Bronchitis.

Symptoms of Whooping Cough in Adults
Usually it will take six to twenty days for the symptoms associated with whooping cough to appear after the Bordetella pertussis bacterium infects a person. This period of time is referred to as the incubation period and after this, the whooping cough will usually develop in multiple stages. Mild symptoms will occur first and then there is a period including more severe symptoms followed by improvement.

Early Stage Symptoms
Adults with whooping cough will show very different symptoms from children. While children frequently produce the “whoop” sound while coughing, this is frequently absent from adults. Adults who develop the condition generally do so after having the common cold or bronchitis. Because of this, the early symptoms of whooping cough in adult are similar to those of the common cold including mild fever, Sneezing, dry cough, runny nose and Sore Throat.

Paroxysmal Stage Symptoms
The next stage is the paroxysmal stage of the whooping cough which includes an uncontrollable and phlegm-filled cough. Severe coughing fits at this time typically last two to three minutes and occur several times within a short period. The paroxysmal cough is frequently followed by vomiting, difficulty breathing, excessive drooling and teary eyes. These coughs usually occur at nightanddisrupt sleep. They can also lead to extreme tiredness as well as a lack of interest in food. In some cases, patients will develop more severe symptoms such as a hernia, rib fracture, or Urinary Incontinence.

Warning: You should always contact your doctor if a prolonged coughing spell has you or your child inhale with a whooping sound, turn blue or red, or vomit.

How to Deal with Whooping Cough in Adults


While it is common for children with whooping cough to require hospitalization, this is not true for adults. Generally, antibiotics are enough to handle this bacterial infection and the antibiotics will usually last about five days to completely eliminate the bacteria causing the infection.

Medications
Antibiotics are very useful at killing the bacteria behind whooping cough and therefore speeding up the recovery process. Sometimes family members are also prescribed the antibiotics to prevent infection. Unfortunately, there are not many methods of relieving the cough and over-the-counter medications for cough tend to be ineffective and therefore discouraged.

Home Remedies for Whooping Cough in Adults
In addition to medication, doctors may recommend that an adult with whooping cough changes certain elements of their diet and lifestyle.

1. Have More Rest.

Many people find it easier to rest and relax when they are in a dark, quiet, and cool bedroom.

2. Drink More Fluids.

You should also be sure to drink plenty of fluids such as water, soups and juice. It is especially important to check for Dehydration in sick children and signs of this include infrequent urination, crying without tears and dry lips.

3. Eat Smaller Meals

Sometimes having smaller but more frequent meals as opposed to larger ones will help reduce the risk of vomiting after a coughing fit. Additionally try to avoid dairy products and sugary foods as they can lead to increased coughing.

4. Clean and Vaporize the Room

Clean a patient’ room to make sure that it is free from irritants that could lead to coughing spells with particular culprits being fumes from the fireplace and tobacco smoke. Also try using a mist vaporizer as this will soothe the irritated lungs as well as loosen up the respiratory secretions. When using a vaporizer, be sure to carefully follow its directions so it remains clean. If there is no access to a vaporizer, you can temporarily ease breathing and clear the lungs with a warm bath or shower.

5. Garlic Juice

Consuming fresh garlic juice can also help you get over your whooping cough. To do so, extract the juice from garlic cloves by crushing them. Take two teaspoons of the juice twice daily.

6. Honey and Radish Juice

Crush some pieces of a fresh radish, squeezing out a teaspoon of the juice. Then add a bit of honey as well as a pinch of some rock salt to your juice, mixing everything together. Taking this mixture three times each day will help relieve the cough.

7. Ginger and Lemon

Ginger juice helps shorten the duration of your coughing bouts. Take a small fresh ginger root and cut it into thin sLices. Then put these slices as well as some rock salt into lemon juice, storing it in a container that is airtight. As soon as a coughing fit starts, suck on one of the ginger slices.

How to Prevent Whooping Cough
The very best method of preventing whooping cough is via the pertussis vaccine and doctors frequently give this vaccine with others that combat additional serious diseases like Tetanus and Diphtheria.

Age group	Description
Adolescents	Immunity from the vaccine tends to decrease by about age 11, you should have a booster shot at that point to protect from whooping cough as well as tetanus and diphtheria.
Adults	Certain versions of the 10-year diphtheria and tetanus vaccine also protect from whooping cough. This vaccine protects from the disease and reduces the risk of transmitting it to infants.
Pregnant women	The CDC recommends that pregnant women have a pertussis vaccine at some point between 27 and 36 weeks into their pregnancy. The protection may last the infant for his first few months after birth.

Infection prevention: To prevent infection, keep the patient in an isolated area until the infection goes away as this helps prevent the disease from spreading. Also be sure to cover your mouth when coughing and wash your hands frequently. Wear a mask if you have to be around others.

For more information about whooping cough such as the symptoms and how it spreads, youmaywatch the video below:

Whooping Cough Vaccine Side Effects

Whooping Cough Vaccine Side Effects

Whooping cough, which also goes by the name of Pertussis, is a very severe disease that causes stark spells of cough that can affect the breathing pattern. Pertussis can also cause long-lasting Bronchitis, Pneumonia, brain damage, seizures and in some cases death. It used to be a widespread deadly disease before the development of its vaccines. Although vaccines are effective in preventing whooping cough, you should never ignore possible whooping cough vaccine side effects.

What Whooping Cough Vaccine Are Available?
DtaP and Tdap are the 2 chief vaccines developed to prevent whooping cough. DTaP is a combination vaccine prepared for children younger than age 7 and it provides passive immunity against the three lethal diseases caused by bacteria: Diphtheria (D), Tetanus (Ta) and pertussis (P) – hence the name DTaP. Tdap is a booster shot given to people aging from 11 to 64 that boosts the immunization already provided by DTap earlier in life. This booster vaccination offers sustained fortification from the respective diseases in young and adult life.

Whooping Cough Vaccine and Pregnancy
According to CDC, the whooping cough vaccine --Tdap vaccine -- is recommended and is considered safe for pregnant women and their babies. A shot of Tdap should be considered in all to-be mothers during the third trimester of pregnancy. What's more, Tdap vaccine given to nursing mothers is secreted in breast milk and additionally provides immunity to the infant, thus reducing the chances of pertussis in the new born before he or she even gets vaccinated. So women who plan to breastfeeding or are breastfeeding their babies should get vaccinated.

Whooping Cough Vaccine Side Effects
Every vaccine developed is tested and re-tested by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention before it is approved for inoculation in humans. The vaccines developed for whooping cough are relatively harmless, but side effects may occur in some subjects.

1. Side Effect of DTaP
Before getting any medicine, the benefits of taking it are weighed against the risks of not taking it. Analyzing the DTaP vaccine brings one to the conclusion that it's better to get a shot of DTaP than getting diphtheria, tetanus or a whooping cough. It is because though the whooping cough vaccine side effects vary from a mild skin rash to a severe allergic reaction, it is extremely unlikely for it to cause any permanent medical condition or death.

The common side effects reported after administration of DTaP are as follows:

• Fever (1 child in 4)


• Tenderness at site of injection (1 child in 4)


• Redness or swelling at site of injection (1 child in 4)


• Fussiness (1 child in 3)


• Tiredness (1 child in 10)


• Vomiting (1 child in 50)

These complications usually occur 1-3 days after the shot.

• Moderate problems (uncommon) like seizure, high grade fever (over 105 °F), non-stop crying and irritability;


• Severe problems (veryrare) like serious allergic reaction, long-term seizures, loss of consciousness or coma, and permanent neuronal damage.

2. Side Effects of Tdap
Mild side effects of Tdap may include:

• Mild fever


• Pain, redness or swelling in the arm at the site of injection


• Tiredness


• Headache


• Muscle aches and pains


• Stomach upset, including nausea, vomiting or Diarrhea


• Swollen glands

When to Get Vaccinated for Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is a tremendously transmissible respiratory infection. Although whooping cough vaccine side effects have been reported, thisvaccine is comparatively safe and side effects, if any, are slight. Equating its benefits and side effects, there is no question in stating that each and every child, adult or pregnant women should get vaccinated without second thoughts.

The recommended schedule states:

• Every child should get 5 shots of DTaP between birth and age 6. In this case, the shot is usually given at the age of 2, 4 and 6 months followed by a shot between 15 and 18 months of age and another when the child is more than 4 but less than 6 years old.


• Then, for the sustenance of immunity, 2 Tdap shots are needed: one Tdap shot given between ages 11 to 12; another Tdap shot in adulthood, accompanied by one Td booster every 10 years.


• In case teens and adults (including pregnant women) are never vaccinated before, then they should get a Tdap shot once and then a TD booster every 10 years.

Precautions About Getting Whooping Cough Vaccine
DTaP vaccine should be withheld if:

• The child is younger than 6 weeks old (as the recommended schedule mentions, an age of 2 months for the first shot);


• The child has had a severe allergic reaction when he got the vaccine previously;


• The child presented with severe nervous or brain system reactions within 7 days of getting a DTaP shot last time;


• Seizure, a fever over 105 °F or non-stop crying for 3 hours was reported after the previous shot. The next vaccine should be given cautiously and must get approval from the doctor beforehand.


• If the physician suspects that the pertussis part of DTaP is causing the reactions, then a DT shot may be better, which will still protect against diphtheria and tetanus.

If the child is ill at the scheduled day of getting a DTaP vaccine, then it is advised to wait before he is well enough to get his next shot. This is because the child will be in optimal health to tolerate the vaccine and the chances of confusing the whooping cough vaccine side effects with his illness will be minimal.

Whooping Cough

Whooping Cough






Whooping cough also known as Pertussis in medical terms is a bacterial infection marked by violent coughing. Repeated coughs are the first sign of this disease and the person may feel difficult to breathe.

Whooping cough is caused by bacteria by name Bordetella pertussis and is a serious disease which may produce permanent disability in children and in particular on infants. The disease is contagious and spreads easily by the droplets of cough through air. The infection may persist up to 6 weeks.

The infection starts with Common Cold and runny nose but may turn severe within a week. You can see the signs of whooping cough with “whoop” noise when the child coughs repeatedly. Difficulty in breathing, slight fever, vomiting and Diarrhea are other symptoms of this infectious disease. Choking problem is quite common in infants when infected with this bacterium.

Treatment should be started early to control the growth of bacteria. Erythromycin is the antibiotic given for controlling whooping cough. But if the child is diagnosed late, this medicine may not be effective.

Infants with whooping cough are to be hospitalized since they are under the risk of shortness of breath. The doctor will analyze the condition of the child and may start intravenous fluids and if needed give breathing support.

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