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Whooping cough is highly contagious and doesn'tt just affect children. Find out how it can be recognised, transmitted and prevented with vaccinations and micronutrients.
Add as Preferred SourceWhooping cough (medical: pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis
.The name is derived from the typical, staccato-like coughing fit with a "drawing" inhalation sound. Although whooping cough is considered a children's disease, it is also increasingly affecting adults - often with an atypical course and therefore an unrecognised risk of infection for babies.
The disease progresses in three stages: initially with cold-like symptoms (runny nose, mild fever), followed by several weeks of severe, seizure-like coughing attacks, especially at night. During the recovery phase, the cough slowly subsides, but can persist for months. Especially in infants there is a risk of respiratory arrest, pneumonia or seizures - therefore protection through vaccination is particularly important here.
In addition to vaccination prevention (e.g. Tdap vaccination for adolescents and adults) can also immunomodulation, a good micronutrient supply (e.g. Vitamin C, Zinc, lactoferrin) and an intact mucosal immune system play a role in the defence against and attenuation of respiratory infections. As pertussis can occur despite vaccination (so-called ""vaccine failures""), early detection and treatment is particularly relevant.
Typical symptoms of whooping cough:Transmission & history:
Prevention & supportive measures:
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