Table of Contents
During which stage of whooping cough is there severe uncontrolled coughing?
Stage 2: Severe, violent coughing spells develop during this stage. Between coughing spells, people often gasp for breath, salivate, and get teary-eyed. Vomiting and exhaustion may follow severe coughing fits. This stage usually lasts one to six weeks, but may last as long as 10 weeks.
How does whooping cough progress?
Paroxysms of cough, which may occur more at night, usually increase in frequency and severity as the illness progresses. The cough typically persists for 1 to 6 weeks or more. After paroxysms subside, a nonparoxysmal cough can continue for 2 to 6 weeks or longer.
What occurs during the three stages of whooping cough?
This disease has 3 stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent. The symptoms of the catarrhal stage are mild and may go unnoticed. The paroxysmal stage of Pertussis is characterized by episodes of coughing with a distinctive “whooping” sound when breathing in (inspiration).
What is the pathogenesis of whooping cough?
Pertussis (whooping cough) is caused by acute respiratory infection with the bacterial pathogen Bordetella pertussis. Several countries are experiencing significantly increased numbers of pertussis cases in recent years [1], including the United States where the number of reported cases in 2012 was a 50-year high [2].
How does whooping cough affect the respiratory system?
Once the bacteria, known as Bordetella pertussis, is inhaled from an infected person coughing or sneezing, it attaches to the tiny, hair-like structures (cilia) that line the upper respiratory system and releases poisons that damage them. This, in turn, causes the airways to swell, making it hard to breathe.
How does the body respond to whooping cough?
With time, the body’s immune system develops antibodies which are specialised immune proteins that recognise that whooping cough bacteria are foreign. The antibodies stick to the bacteria and help the body’s immune cells to respond to fight the infection.
How fast does whooping cough progress?
Symptoms usually appear about 7 to 10 days after exposure. But symptoms can appear from 4 to 21 days after a person is infected. It is rare but it can take up to 6 weeks to develop symptoms. Some people have milder symptoms, especially if they have been vaccinated.
How does pertussis affect the respiratory system?
Which cells are affected by whooping cough?
B. pertussis infection induces innate immune cell (such as neutrophils and macrophages) activation, as well as IFN-γ-producing and IL-17-producing T cells. The Th-17 T cells are instrumental for sIgA production. The infection also results in resident memory T cells (γδ and CD4+ T cells).
What makes Bordetella pertussis so virulent?
These virulence factors include adhesins such as filamentous haemagglutinin, fimbriae and pertactin, which allow B. pertussis to bind to ciliated epithelial cells in the upper respiratory tract.
What causes the cough in whooping cough?
After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable coughing.
What does whooping cough sound like?
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it’s marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like “whoop.”
What part of the body does whooping cough affect?
The bacteria affect the lungs and airways, causing a person to cough violently and uncontrollably. This can make it hard for the infected person to breathe. Whooping cough is a serious disease because it can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death.
What is the characteristics of Bordetella pertussis?
CHARACTERISTICS: Bordetella pertussis are small, gram-negative, encapsulated, non-motile, coccobacilli with outer pili. They are generally about 0.5-1.0 µm in size 3- 5. Some have reported that the bacteria are covered with surface slime or biofilm composed of carbohydrates 6 .
What does whooping cough sound like in babies?
Whooping cough symptoms: children In toddlers and children, coughing spells often last a minute or longer and can cause: A loud “whoop” at the end of the cough. This is the sound of the child trying to get air back into his or her lungs. Vomiting.
What is the difference between whooping cough and normal cough?
Whooping cough lasts longer; where a normal cough may last just a few days or weeks, whooping cough may last several months. Whooping cough usually has several uncontrolled coughing spasms which can be quite severe and cause vomiting.
What is a high pitched cough?
Some dry coughs also make a high-pitched “wheezy” sound, which can be frightening to hear. Wheezing is caused by inflamed or narrowed airways, and can sometimes be a symptom of a severe breathing problem that requires medical attention. Common causes of dry coughs include asthma, colds and flu and acid reflux.