Pertussis is called "whooping cough" because
we hear a characteristic sound like a WHOOP
when the infected child makes after a coughing attack.
The cough brings long, persistent fits and forces
almost all the air out of the lungs.
In the first stage the child will have some cough,[
running nose and fever. . .it starts to get better after
one or two weeks. . .with pertussis, it starts to worsen
after that time with a second stage of more coughing
fits and gagging. . .that can last two to eight weeks.
Most kids get this from adults; what's different with
infants is they get apnea and stop breathing. . .
There is a vaccine = DTaP and post-exposure medicine
is available.
No comments:
Post a Comment