What is Pertussis Disease (Whooping coughs)?

Pertussis Disease (Whooping coughs): Symptoms & Causes

Pertussis is a lung infection that triggers uncontrollable coughing spells. It is also known as whooping cough, as it is characterized by a distinctive high-pitched whooping sound that accompanies coughing. It usually affects infants, who are easily infected by the bacteria and experience a violent and rapid cough.

However, it can also affect adults of all ages who may experience a persistent cough. Hence, it is also known as a 100-day cough, as the infection takes months to cure. Keep reading to learn more about pertussis symptoms, causes, and details.

What is the Cause of Pertussis?

Bordetella pertussis is the bacterium responsible for causing pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. It can enter through the nostrils and spread through respiratory droplets when the infected person coughs or sneezes.

It causes swelling in the airways and damages the lining, due to which thick mucus accumulates, resulting in severe coughing fits. It takes around five to ten days for the infection to spread, but sometimes the symptoms may appear late, around 21 days.

What are the Symptoms of Pertussis?

The symptoms of pertussis seem like a common cold at first, and then it worsens over weeks or months. The disease builds up in 3 stages:

Stage 1: Mild Common Cold Symptoms

• Blocked nose
• Sore throat
• Running nose
• Watery eyes
• Fever
• A constant feeling of sickness
• Mild coughing

Babies may suffer from breathing issues, which can show these symptoms:

• The skin around their mouth turns blue or grey from lack of oxygen.
• A cavity in the stomach or panting while the baby breathes.
• The baby might struggle to breathe.
   

Stage 2: Severe Coughing Fits

The second stage is characterized by thick mucus and severe coughing fits, lasting around six weeks. However, the symptoms can worsen and sometimes last around 10 weeks. Here are the symptoms that are associated with coughing fits:

• A coughing fit means coughing many times at a stretch and making a high-pitched whoop sound when trying to catch a breath between the coughs.
• You might also experience vomiting as a consequence of intense coughing.
• Crying, eating, or laughing usually triggers these coughing fits.
• They may happen during the day but become more severe at night.
• These coughing fits become more frequent before they stabilize and gradually decrease in intensity.
   

Stage 3: Recovery

The recovery takes around six weeks and is characterized by a mild cough that comes and goes. The frequency of coughing fits decreases gradually, making you feel better with time. At this stage, you should avoid exposure to germs and take precautions as your body is still weak and hasn’t recovered completely.

What are the Possible Complications of Pertussis?

Certain health disorders may occur due to pertussis disease or excessive coughing. These may vary in teens, adults, and infants. Teens or adults may experience these as a side effect of whooping cough, such as:

• Cracked ribs
• An abdominal hernia occurs when tissue bulges out of the abdominal muscles due to excessive coughing.
• The presence of damaged blood vessels in the skin or the white part of the eyes.
• Fainting
• Unreasonable weight loss
• Loss of control over the bladder
• Migraines
• Urinary incontinence (Leaking of urine while coughing)

Infants (specifically under the age of six months) can have severe complications of whooping cough, such as:

• Pneumonia
• Ear infections
• Dehydration
• Seizures
• Brain damage
• Trouble breathing or a slow breathing rate
• Unreasonable weight loss or malnutrition due to trouble in feeding  
• Nose bleeding
• Pulmonary hypertension
   

What is the Treatment for Pertussis?

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the treatment methods that may prove effective for pertussis:

• Physicians may recommend antibiotics such as azithromycin, clarithromycin, or erythromycin to combat Pertussis. These may not entirely cure coughing fits, but they kill the bacteria and prevent you from spreading the infection to others.  
• If you start taking these medications early, they might help alleviate the symptoms or even prevent them from getting worse.
• Infants may require constant monitoring if they are facing severe respiratory issues.

Early treatment will prove the most effective against pertussis disease. If the symptoms worsen, fighting off the bacteria is difficult. Hence, seek medical attention immediately if you have persistent cough symptoms lasting over a week.