Respiratory - Whooping Cough Flashcards
What causes whooping cough?
Bordetella pertussis
URTI
What type of organism is Bordetella pertussis?
Gram negative bacteria
Who is vaccinated against whooping cough?
Children and pregnant women
Vaccine less effective a few years after each dose
How does whooping cough present
Initial
Mild coryzal symptoms
Low grade fever
Mild dry cough
After 1 week
Severe coughing fits
- Involves sudden and recurring attacks of coughing with cough free periods in between
- Fits are severe and keep building until patient completely out of breath
Large inspiratory whoop when coughing ends
May present with apnoeas rather than cough
What can cause a pneumothorax to develop in whooping cough?
Patients coughing too hard
How is whooping cough diagnosed?
Nasopharyngeal or nasal swab with PCR testing or bacterial culture
Confirms diagnosis within 2-3 weeks of symptom onset
Cough present for 2 weeks or more
Patients can be tested for anti-pertussis toxin immunoglobulin G
How is anti-pertussis toxin immunoglobulin G tested?
Oral fluid 5-16
Blood 17 and over
What must be done if a patient has whooping cough or pertussis?
Notifiable disease
Public Health needs to be notified
How is whooping cough managed?
- Supportive care
- Vulnerable patients, under 6 months and patients with cyanosis may need to be admitted
- Measures to avoid spread
- Macrolide antibiotics in first 21 days or vulnerable patients
- Close contacts prophylactic antibiotics if in vulnerable group
What measures can be used to avoid spread of whooping cough?
Avoiding contact
Isolation
Disposing tissues
Careful hand hygiene
What can be given as an alternative to macrolide antibiotics?
Co-trimoxazole
How long does it take for symptoms to typically resolve?
8 weeks, can last several months
What is a key complication of whooping cough?
Bronchiectasis
