Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute infection of the respiratory tract caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. It initially presents with mild cold-like symptoms that progress to severe coughing fits ending in a high-pitched whoop as the person inhales. It is most contagious in the early stages when symptoms resemble a common cold. Pertussis is prevented through routine DPT immunization of infants and boosters for children up to age 5. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms and spread through antibiotics or isolation.

1. PLENARY 3
In CPH
―Communicable Diseases‖
(Pertussis)
Submitted by: Solidum Diore M.
BSMD 2Y2-5
(January 21, 2013)

2. PERTUSSIS
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
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.
ETIOLOGIC/CAUSATIVE AGENT
Hemophilus Pertussis or;
Bordet Gengou Bacillus or;
Bordetella pertussis or;
pertussis bacillus.
SOURCE OF INFECTION
Discharges from laryngeal and bronchial mucous membrane of infected persons.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
Direct spread through respiratory and salivary contacts.
Crowding and close association with patients facilitate spread.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
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)
Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits

3. PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY
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.
SUSCEPTIBILITY, RESISTANCE, AND OCCURRANCE
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.
METHODS OF PREVENTION AND CONTROL
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 the patient's
ability to spread the disease to others.
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.
A baby with Pertussis
REFERENCES:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002528/
Pacifico, Pilar B., Venzon, Lydia M., Hernando, Juanita P., Liwanag, Leonora M., Buenviaje,
Angelina M., Lacson, Filomena S., Espinosa, Amelia, Cuevas, Frances Priscilla L., Borja, Vicente E.,
Mejia, Clarita S. 2007 Public Health Nursing in the Philippines. 10th Edition. Publications
Committee, National League of Philippine Government Nurses, Incorporated.