whooping cough

Question 1

what is pertussis?

Answer 1

is an infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis.

Question 2

clinical features of whooping cough?

Answer 2

acute cough that has lasted for 14 days or more without another apparent cause,

• has one or more of the following features:
  1. Paroxysmal cough.
  2. Inspiratory whoop.
  3. Post-tussive vomiting.
  4. apneaic episodes

Question 3

Mx

Answer 3

1. a notifiable disease
2. oral macrolide - clarithromycin/erythromycin
   - if onset is within 21 days