2. Pertussis is also called as Whooping cough is a
highly contagious disease mainly of children
caused by Bordetella pertussis.
It is characterized by severe uncontrollable
coughing spells which can sometimes end in a
“whoop” sound when person breathes in.
Also called as “100 day cough” by Chinese.
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3. In 2012, 2.49 cases were reported by WHO
globally when the DPT immunization was 83%.
In India after launch of immunization programme
in 1987, the reported cases dropped from 1.63
lakh to only 36,661 cases in 2013 ( 77% decline)
Underlying malnutrition and other respiratory
infections in children make then prone to this
disease.
Recently the disease shows increase incidence in
older children, adolescents and adults.(21%
adults had pertussis after serological studies of
adults with cough for more than 2 weeks)
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4. AGENT FACTORS-
Agent -Causative agent is Bordetella pertussis.
Also caused by B.parapertussis,
Viruses(parainfluenzae, adenovirus)
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5. Source of infection- Only man is the known
source of infection.
Pervious case of pertussis which may be mild,
missed and unrecognised case is usually the
source of infection.
No chronic carrier state exist
Infective material –Nasopharyngeal and bronchial
secretion.
Fomites contaminated by such discharge are
also infective.
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6. Infective period- Catarrhal stage most infective.
Extends from week after exposure to about 3
weeks after onset of paroxysmal stage.
Secondary attack rate- Average 90% in
unimmunized people.
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7. HOST FACTORS
Age- Infants and pre-school (<5 years)
- Developing countries (20-30 months)
and developed countries (50 months)
-Highest mortality below 6 months.
Sex- More common among females.
Immunity-Immunity develops after a case or
immunization.
No cross immunity.
Secondary attack occur in declining
immune
person.
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8. ENVIRONMENT
More cases occur during winter and spring.
Lower socio-economic group more prone than
well to do
groups due to overcrowding.
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9. Close person to person contact via aerosolized droplets fromrespiratory
secretions of patients with disease.
90% of non immune household contacts acquire thedisease.
Adolescents and adults (27 of reported cases in 2004) are the major source of
infection in unvaccinated children.
Infants and young children are infected by older siblings who have mildto
asymptomatic disease (43% of reported cases).
TRANSMISSION
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10. Pertussis is primarily a toxin-mediated disease.
The bacteria attach to the cilia of the respiratory
epithelial cells, produce toxins that paralyze the cilia,
and cause inflammation of the respiratory tract, which
interferes with the clearing of pulmonary secretions.
Until recently, scientists thought that B. pertussis did
not invade the tissues; however, recent studies have
suggested that the bacteria are present in alveolar
macrophages.
PATHOGENESIS
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11. Usually 7-14 days but not more than 3 weeks
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12. Causes local infection by multiplying in the
surface epithelium of respiratory mucosa.
Leads to inflammation and necrosis of mucosa.
Occurs in 3 stages-
1. Catarrhal stage
2. Paroxysmal stage
3. Convalescent stage
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13. 1. Catarrhal stage-
- Lasts for 10 days.
- Characterized by:
Insidious onset
Lacrimation
Sneezing
Coryza
Anorexia
Malaise
Hacking night cough that becomes
diurnal
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14. 2. Paroxysmal stage
-Lasts for 2-4 weeks
-Characterized by burst of rapid,
consecutive coughs followed by a
deep, deep pitched inspiration (whoop)
- Followed by vomiting
In infants- Causes cyanosis and apnoea In
adults and adolescents-
Uncharacteristic,persistent cough
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15. 3. Convalescent stage-
Lasts for 1-2 weeks
Decrease in paroxysms of coughing both in
freq and severity
Cessation of Vomiting
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16. Increase of pertussis antibody:
I. IgA antibody titer to pertussis is becoming the method of choice.
II. IgG antibody to pertussis toxin indicative of recent infection.
III. Single serum test for significantly high pertussis specific
antibody can confirm the diagnosis.
Blood Count
I. Absolute Lymphocytosis (15,000-100,000 cells/mm3( .
Cultures: nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or
aspirate from all persons with suspected
cases.
X-Ray chest
DIAGNOSIS
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17. Adenoviral respiratory infection - Children present with
fever, sore throat, and conjunctivitis.
Mycoplasmal pneumonia - Patients with mycoplasmal
infections have more pronounced systemic symptoms,
fever and headache may occur, and rales may be
appreciated on chest auscultation.
Chlamydial pneumonia - Young infants with
chlamydial infections present with staccato cough,
purulent conjunctival discharge, tachypnea, rales, and
wheezing.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection - Patients
present with predominantly lower respiratory tract signs
(eg, wheezing, rales).
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
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18. Occurs in 5-6% cases
Frequent in infants aged less than 6 months
Mainly- Bronchitis
- Bronchopneumonia (5.2%)
-Bronchiectasis
-Subconjuctival hemorrhage
-Epistaxis
-Heomptysis
-Punctate cerebral hemorrhage
-Coma and convulsions
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19. Cases and contacts-
1. Cases- Early diagnosis by
bacteriological exam. of nose and throat
secretions (60% chances within 10-14 days from
onset)
- Isolation of case
30-50 mg/kg for 10 days
Septran , Ampicillin and
in early catarrhal stage to
- Treatment of case- Erythromycin
Prevent or moderate clinical pertussis.
During paroxysmal stage
only eliminate bacteria
Tetracycline can also be used
from
nasopharynx eliminating transmission
Given during incubation
or
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20. 2.Contacts
-Isolation of case
-Prophylactic antibiotics (Erythromycin or
Ampicillin )
Treatment for 10 days to prevent establishment
of case in exposed infants.
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21. Active immunization
- Covered under National Immunization Programme
-Combined as DPT, DTWP or DTaP vaccine.
-Administered as 3 dose ( each dose 0.5 ml) IM at
1 month interval starting at 6 weeks.
-Booster dose at 18-24 months
-Acellular vaccine for older children and adults
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22. Efficacy 85%
Duration of protection 6-12 years following complete
dose+ booster
HIV positive individuals should also be immunized
Adverse reactions- Early vaccine caused screaming
and collapse.
-Give rise to local reactions at site of injection,
mild fever and irritability
-Rare vaccine reaction are- Inconsolable
screaming, seizures, hypotonic hypo-responsive
episode,
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23. Contraindications- Anaphylactic reactions,
encephalopathy, history of epilepsy, convulsions
or similar CNS disorders , any febrile episode and
reaction to previous triple vaccine
• Passive immunization-
Hyperimmune globulin is given but efficacy no
established yet.
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