Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute infection of the respiratory tract caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. It begins with mild cold-like symptoms but progresses to severe coughing fits ending in a high-pitched whoop as the person inhales. Coughing fits can last for several weeks or months. Pertussis is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets. It most severely affects infants under 6 months old. Vaccination is the best prevention through routine DPT immunization of infants and booster shots for children.

1. ―Pertussis‖
(Whooping Cough)
Prepared by: Solidum, Diore M.

2. •Pertussis is an acute infection of the
respiratory tract.
•It begins as an ordinary cold, which in
a typical case becomes increasingly
severe, and after the second week is
attended by paroxysms of cough
ending in a characteristic whoop as
the breath is drawn in.
•Vomiting may follow spasm.
•Cough may last for several weeks
and occasionally 2-3 months.

3. •Hemophilus Pertussis or;
•Bordet Gengou Bacillus or;
Hemophilus Pertussis
•Bordetella pertussis or; Bordetella pertussis
•pertussis bacillus.
Bordet Gengou Bacillus
pertussis bacillus

4. •Discharges from laryngeal and bronchial mucous
membrane of infected persons.

5. •Direct spread through respiratory and salivary
contacts.
•Crowding and close association with patients
facilitate spread.

6. Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually
include:
•Runny nose
•Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course
of the disease)
•Mild, occasional cough
•Apnea — a pause in breathing (in infants)
Because pertussis in its early stages appears to be nothing
more than the common cold, it is often not suspected or
diagnosed until the more severe symptoms appear. Infected
people are most contagious up to about 2 weeks after the
cough begins. Antibiotics may shorten the amount of time
someone is contagious.
As the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of
pertussis appear and include:
•Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-
pitched "whoop"
•Vomiting (throwing up)

7. •In early catarrhal stage, paroxysmal cough confirms
provisional clinical diagnosis 7 days after exposure to 3
weeks after onset of paroxysms.
•The incubation period of pertussis is commonly 7–10
days, with a range of 4–21 days, and rarely may be as long
as 42 days.

8. •Susceptibility is general, predominantly a childhood
disease.
•The incidence being highest under 7 years of age and
mortality highest in infants, particularly under 6 months of
age.
•One attack confers definite and prolonged immunity.
•Second attack occasionally occurs.
•A very prevalent and common disease among children
everywhere regardless of race, climate or geographic
location.

9. •Routine DPT (Diphtheria Pertussis
Tetanus) immunization of all infants which can
be started at 1 ½ months of life and given at monthly
intervals in 3 consecutive months. This constitutes
the primary infections.
•Booster dose is to be given at the age of 2 years
and again at 4 to 5 years of age.
•The patient should be segregated until after 3
weeks from the appearance of paroxysmal cough.
•If started early enough, antibiotics such
as erythromycin can make the symptoms go
away more quickly. Unfortunately, most patients are
diagnosed too late, when antibiotics aren't very
effective. However, the medicines can help reduce

10. •Infants younger than 18 months need constant
supervision because their breathing may
temporarily stop during coughing spells. Infants
with severe cases should be hospitalized.
•An oxygen tent with high humidity may be used.
•Fluids may be given through a vein if coughing
spells are severe enough to prevent the person
from drinking enough fluids.
•Sedatives (medicines to make you sleepy) may
be prescribed for young children.
•Cough mixtures, expectorants, and
suppressants are usually not helpful and should
NOT be used.