Pertussis (whooping cough-CDCreport

Pertussis (whooping cough
ICD-10 A37
Identification

A highly contagious upper respiratory tract bacterial infection. Clinically has 3 stages; the initial catarrhal stage is characterized by the insidious onset of coryza (runny nose), sneezing, low-grade fever, and a mild, occasional cough, similar to the common cold. The cough gradually becomes more severe and irritating.

After 1-2 weeks, the second, or paroxysmal stage, begins. The patient has bursts, or paroxysms, of numerous, rapid coughs, apparently due to difficulty expelling thick mucus from the tracheobronchial tree. At the end of the paroxysm, a long inspiratory effort is usually accompanied by a characteristic whoop. In younger infants, periods of apnea may follow the coughing spasms, and the patient may become cyanotic (turn blue).

In the convalescent stage, recovery is gradual. The cough becomes less paroxysmal and disappears over 2 to 3 weeks. However, paroxysms often recur with subsequent respiratory infections for many months after the onset of pertussis. Fever is generally minimal throughout the course of pertussis