Pertussus - whooping cough
Background
- Bordetella pertussis
- Bacterial LRTI with paroxysmal cough ±whoop
- Humans the only reservoir
Clinical
1st stage (1-2 weeks) - "catarrhal"
- Nasal congestion & rhinorrhea
- Low-grade (if any) pyrexia
- Conjunctival suffusion
2nd Stage – "paroxysmal"
- Paroxysms of intense dry coughing then whoop
- ± vomiting with cough
- Scleral hemorrhages due to coughing
3rd stage - "convalescence"
Management
- Suportive
- Azithromycin/clarithromycin
- Prevention & Immunisation
- DTaP or Tdap vaccine
- Consider AB prophylaxis in susceptible contacts
Investigations
- B pertussis on C&S (NPA)
- PCR
Content by Dr Íomhar O' Sullivan. Last review Dr ÍOS 16/02/25.