Introduction
When a cough isn’t just a cough and may in fact be fatal. Whooping cough is that cough, the one that you should hope never to encounter. The Wichita Eagle states that there were three cases diagnosed in Kingman, county, Kansas. I wondered why this would make the news. Three cases do not sound like much to worry about, however, by the end of the article I realized this is indeed something that should be taken seriously and was indeed newspaper worthy. The article introduces us to three cases in Kingman County, where age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic differences don’t appear to be a factor.
This paper will discuss whooping coughs history, the symptoms, who’s at risk, the control efforts, along with the vaccinations available. The …show more content…
Outbreaks of pertussis were first described in the 16th century, and the organism was first isolated in 1906. (Pertussis, 2015)
Per the Pertussis page, “In the 20th century, pertussis was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of childhood mortality in the United States. Before the availability of the pertussis vaccine in the 1940s, more than 200,000 cases of pertussis were reported annually. Since widespread use of the vaccine began, incidence has decreased more than 80% compared with the prevaccine era.” (Pertussis, 2015)
Pertussis remains a major health problem among children in developing countries, with 195,000 deaths resulting from the disease in 2008 (Organization, …show more content…
(Pertussis, 2015) Next is the “Paroxysmal cough stage” this is the stage where a diagnosis of pertussis may occur. (Pertussis, 2015) The patient experiences severe coughing which can result in vomiting, fatigue and broken ribs. At the end of the paroxysm, a long inspiratory effort is usually accompanied by a characteristic high-pitched whoop, thus the name “whooping cough”. Convalescence is stage three, lasting weeks to months." (Pertussis, 2015) Who’s at risk?
Everyone is at risk when it comes to Pertussis. However, age can be a major factor for increased risk as well as the vaccination status. For example, anyone who has not been vaccinated, and babies who have not completed the immunization series, are at higher risk. “Adults and adolescents whose immunity to the disease has diminished are at increased risk for developing whooping cough and for spreading the disease. Pertussis can be transmitted to others before symptoms of the disease develop.” (Whooping Cough Pertussis, 2015) Even though the disease may be milder in older persons, those who are infected may transmit the disease to other susceptible persons, including unimmunized or incompletely immunized infants. Older persons are often found to have the first case in a household with multiple pertussis
When a cough isn’t just a cough and may in fact be fatal. Whooping cough is that cough, the one that you should hope never to encounter. The Wichita Eagle states that there were three cases diagnosed in Kingman, county, Kansas. I wondered why this would make the news. Three cases do not sound like much to worry about, however, by the end of the article I realized this is indeed something that should be taken seriously and was indeed newspaper worthy. The article introduces us to three cases in Kingman County, where age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic differences don’t appear to be a factor.
This paper will discuss whooping coughs history, the symptoms, who’s at risk, the control efforts, along with the vaccinations available. The …show more content…
Outbreaks of pertussis were first described in the 16th century, and the organism was first isolated in 1906. (Pertussis, 2015)
Per the Pertussis page, “In the 20th century, pertussis was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of childhood mortality in the United States. Before the availability of the pertussis vaccine in the 1940s, more than 200,000 cases of pertussis were reported annually. Since widespread use of the vaccine began, incidence has decreased more than 80% compared with the prevaccine era.” (Pertussis, 2015)
Pertussis remains a major health problem among children in developing countries, with 195,000 deaths resulting from the disease in 2008 (Organization, …show more content…
(Pertussis, 2015) Next is the “Paroxysmal cough stage” this is the stage where a diagnosis of pertussis may occur. (Pertussis, 2015) The patient experiences severe coughing which can result in vomiting, fatigue and broken ribs. At the end of the paroxysm, a long inspiratory effort is usually accompanied by a characteristic high-pitched whoop, thus the name “whooping cough”. Convalescence is stage three, lasting weeks to months." (Pertussis, 2015) Who’s at risk?
Everyone is at risk when it comes to Pertussis. However, age can be a major factor for increased risk as well as the vaccination status. For example, anyone who has not been vaccinated, and babies who have not completed the immunization series, are at higher risk. “Adults and adolescents whose immunity to the disease has diminished are at increased risk for developing whooping cough and for spreading the disease. Pertussis can be transmitted to others before symptoms of the disease develop.” (Whooping Cough Pertussis, 2015) Even though the disease may be milder in older persons, those who are infected may transmit the disease to other susceptible persons, including unimmunized or incompletely immunized infants. Older persons are often found to have the first case in a household with multiple pertussis