What happens if a baby gets pertussis?
Of those babies who get treatment for whooping cough in a hospital, about 1 out of 4 will get pneumonia and 1 or 2 out of 100 will die. Other complications include violent, uncontrolled shaking, life-threatening pauses in breathing, and brain disease.
How common is pertussis in infants?
Rates of Reported Pertussis In the prevaccine era, 85%–90% of reported cases occurred in children between 1 and 10 years of age. Only 7%–11% of the reported cases were recognized in infants, and reported adult cases were <3%.
What is the most common result of pertussis to the baby?
What are the complications of pertussis? Pertussis in infants is often severe, and infants are more likely than older children or adults to develop complications. The most common complication of pertussis is bacterial pneumonia. Rare complications include seizures, inflammation of the brain, and death.
What is the difference between Bordetella pertussis and Parapertussis?
BORDETELLA pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis cause whooping cough in humans. They are almost identical at the DNA level and produce many similar virulence factors. The pathogenetically important difference between the two is that B parapertussis does not secrete pertussis toxin.
How do you treat whooping cough in infants?
Treatment for pertussis Whooping cough is treated with an antibiotic that is most effective when given in the first stage of illness, before the coughing spells begin. Although antibiotics can stop the spread of the whooping cough infection, they cannot prevent or treat the cough itself.
How do doctors treat pertussis?
Several antibiotics are available to treat pertussis. The most popular are azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin. If you have had pertussis for three weeks or more, antibiotics will not be prescribed because the bacteria are already gone from your body.
What happens if pertussis is left untreated?
Complications of whooping cough are more common in infants and young children. They may include pneumonia, middle ear infection, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, fainting, dehydration, seizures, altered brain function (encephalopathy), brief periods when breathing stops and death.
What is the most common cause of death in pertussis?
The most common complication, and the cause of most pertussis-related deaths, is secondary bacterial pneumonia. Young infants are at highest risk for developing pertussis-associated complications.
Do you treat parapertussis?
Persons with parapertussis can be treated with antibiotics, but antibiotics may do little to lessen the symptoms. Treatment is most effective if started soon after cough begins. Preventive treatment is not generally recommended for contacts of people with parapertussis.
How long is parapertussis contagious?
A person with parapertussis or holmesii can probably spread the disease to others during the first three weeks of coughing. A person with parapertussis or holmesii cannot spread the disease to others if they have completed five days of antibiotic treatment or they are beyond the first three weeks of coughing.
How long does whooping cough last in infants?
It mainly affects babies and young children. Whooping cough used to be called the “100-day cough” because it can last for weeks to months. The illness often starts like the common cold, with a runny nose, sneezing, and a mild cough or fever. After 1 to 2 weeks, severe coughing starts.
What antibiotics treat pertussis?
What is the treatment? Antibiotics can prevent and treat whooping cough. Recommended antibiotics include azithromycin, erythromycin and clarithromycin. Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole can also be used.
What is the best antibiotic for pertussis?
Erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, has been the antimicrobial of choice for treatment or postexposure prophylaxis of pertussis. It is usually administered in 4 divided daily doses for 14 days.
Can vaccinated babies get whooping cough?
Older siblings, parents, or caregivers who might not know they have the disease infect many babies who get pertussis. If pertussis is circulating in the community, there’s a chance that even a fully vaccinated person of any age can catch this very contagious disease.
Does pertussis cause pneumonia?
Whooping cough can last up to 10 weeks and can lead to pneumonia and other complications. The symptoms of whooping cough may look like other medical conditions. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis.