Whooping Cough Health Video

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease leading to severe coughing bouts and even vomiting. Learn about whooping cough in this respiratory health video.

Take Action

Receive immunizations
Take proper hygiene measures
Take appropriate antibiotics
Seek medical attention

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

Dr. SUSAN MCGLADERRY: Hello, my name is Dr. Sue McGladdery. I'm the medical director from First Med Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'd like to talk to you about the problem with whooping cough. Whooping cough or pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It's caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis and worldwide, about 3,000 deaths per year occur due to this infection. In the U.S, one in 200 babies with pertussis will die and another one in 200 will suffer lifetime brain damage. What are the symptoms of this infection? It starts out looking really just like a common cold but after one or two weeks, the symptoms don't improve they get worse, particularly in young babies. In severe cases, there is a very strong hacking cough with as many as 15 coughs in a row. This is a followed by high-pitched intake of breath from which the disease gets it name. There is a whooping noise as the child stops coughing and starts to breathe again. The coughing may lead to vomiting and red or blueness of the face. It's very exhausting, and in the old days, it was known as the "hundred-a-day cough". Despite an active vaccination program, whooping cough has not been eradicated and in the U.S. cases have even started to increase in recent years. The reason for this increase, well, protection of the childhood vaccine seems to wear off in teens and adults. And in the case of an outbreak, these individuals are not protected. Also, children need at least three shots before they become fully protected, so young babies who haven't completed the primary course of immunization are particularly at risk. How is whooping cough diagnosed and treated? Well, it's based on lab test or history of contact with someone who has whooping cough. The treatment must include antibiotics and often asthma-type medication is also helpful. Most teenagers and adults do recover without complications, however, this may not be true for babies who developed whooping cough. So, what can you do to prevent whooping cough? Make sure that your baby gets his or her shots on time and don't forget that it's now advised for all teenagers to receive an extra booster dose to prevent later cases of whooping cough and then of course, the simple hygiene measures at home will go a long way to reducing the spread of any infection.

Whooping Cough Health Video

Take Action

About this Author

Member Comments