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The clinical presentation of pertussis is dynamic and varies significantly by age and vaccination status. While the classic “whoop” is the hallmark symptom, it is not universally present. The disease manifests as a continuum of respiratory distress, driven by the biological damage to the respiratory mucosa. Understanding the nuanced progression of symptoms is vital for early identification and isolation.
In infants, the condition may present not with coughing but with life-threatening pauses in breathing, known as apnea. At Liv Hospital, the evaluation of these symptoms is thorough, considering the potential for severe complications such as pneumonia, seizures, and encephalopathy caused by hypoxia.
The initial phase, known as the catarrhal stage, is the most deceptive period of the illness. It typically lasts 1 to 2 weeks and is indistinguishable from a common cold or a minor viral infection.
As the disease progresses into the second or third week, the cough changes character, marking the onset of the paroxysmal stage. This is the most distressing phase for patients and caregivers.
In infants younger than 6 months, the classic symptoms of pertussis are often absent. Their respiratory musculature is not developed enough to produce the forceful “whoop.” Instead, the condition presents with ominous neurological and respiratory signs.
The final stage is convalescence, marked by the gradual recovery of the respiratory tract. The frequency and severity of the coughing paroxysms slowly decrease. However, the airways remain hyper-reactive.
Pertussis is not limited to the respiratory tract; the mechanical force of the cough and the systemic effects of the toxins can lead to a wide range of complications.
In adolescents and adults, particularly those with partial immunity from previous vaccination, the symptoms are often attenuated. This “walking pertussis” is a significant vector for transmission.
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It is a high-pitched gasping sound made when a person breathes in deeply after a long coughing fit. It sounds like a desperate gasp for air.
Babies have weak chest muscles and immature respiratory centers. The infection can signal the brain to stop breathing rather than triggering a forceful cough reflex.
Yes, the coughing fits can be so violent that they cause cracked ribs, hernias, or burst blood vessels in the eyes or skin.
The coughing is so intense that it gags the throat and puts immense pressure on the stomach, forcing the contents up immediately after the fit ends.
The severe coughing stage can last for 1 to 6 weeks, but a milder cough can linger for months as the lungs slowly repair themselves.
This is a worrying trend of deaths that could have been prevented by vaccines. The effect of vaccine-preventable diseases on health worldwide is huge. Knowing
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