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Whooping Cough

Whooping cough, also known as machine gun cough and pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It gets its name from a high pitched intake of breath (whoop) followed by a severe hacking cough. 


Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria, Bordetella pertussis, and is most commonly seen in children under five years old. 


At first, whooping cough starts off like any ordinary cold, but tends to worsen with periods of uncontrolled coughing that can last months. Hence, it is also given the name 百日咳 (hundred day cough). In the most severe cases, the coughing may cause vomiting, nosebleeds or broken blood vessels in the eyes. 


Erythromycin, an antibiotic, is given to treat whooping cough. However, it is not as effective once the whooping cough has developed. Hence, it is most commonly administered to close contacts of a patient of whooping cough, to ensure the cough does not spread. As for the patient, it is up to the immune system to fight the bacteria. 


Vaccination against whooping cough is administered to babies at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 18 months. This has helped to prevent an outbreak of whooping cough in Singapore.


Video of Whooping Cough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5SHtdczSBc&ab_channel=MayoClinic


Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whooping-cough/symptoms-causes/syc-20378973#:~:text=Whooping%20cough%20(pertussis)%20is%20a,was%20considered%20a%20childhood%20disease.

https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/vaccines.html

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/130/topic_whooping_cough

https://www.ncid.sg/Health-Professionals/Diseases-and-Conditions/Pages/Pertussis.aspx#:~:text=In%20Singapore%2C%20a%20sharp%20increase,under%206%20months%20of%20age.

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