Whooping cough

Question 1

What is whooping cough (cause, RF, signs and Sx)

Answer 1

Whooping cough/pertussis -URTI caused by Borderlla pertussis
Airborn, highly contagious but vaccination

typical hx -
<6 month (before fully vaccinated)
Mother was infected/ not vaccinated)
No vaccines
Work with children

1/2 weeks of coryzal sx, fever, cough
1-6weeks of “typical”. then convalescence
-Insipatory whooping (COMONLY ABSENT) - often just apnea
paroxysamal cough
post tussive vomits
decrease appetite

admit if under 6month or acutely unwell (breathing difficulties, complications)

Ix -nasopharyngeal aspirate or swab
serology (later in disease)
FBC -high WBC

Question 2

Management of whooping cough

Answer 2

infants <1month -clarithro
infants>1 month Azithro
Or trimpethoprim
2nd line-co amox

adults -non pregnant same as infants >1month
Pregnant -erythromycin

children only go back after 48h of Abx or 21 days since onset of cough if not treated

prog good for children and adults

complications normal -pneumoniae, seizure, encelopathy (from hypxia), otitis

Question 3

at what point should whooping cough pt be allowed to go back to school

Answer 3

after 48h of abx or 21 days after onset of cough if not treated