What is whooping cough and what are its symptoms?

whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can spread from person to person.It is caused by a type of bacteria called " Bordetella pertussis. It can make people of all ages sick and is especially dangerous for babies.

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, these bacteria “stick to cilia (small hair-like extensions) in parts of the upper respiratory tract. These bacteria release toxins (poisons) that damage the cilia and cause gas Tract inflammation.

pertussis spread through the air, When an infected person coughs or sneezes. This can also happen when people share an enclosed space for an extended period of time.

According to the CDC, symptoms usually appear “5 to 10 days after exposure to disease-causing bacteria,” and can sometimes take up to three weeks. In its first stage, It can be confused with the common cold.

Initial symptoms may be a runny or stuffy nose, low-grade fever, mild cough—The baby may not even cough– Even apnea and “the condition turns blue or purple in babies and young children.”

In the second stage of the disease, whooping cough can cause Severe and uncontrollable cough, Lasts from one to ten weeks.

There is a vaccine Prevents whooping cough, which does not prevent the disease but can reduce the severity of the infection and make the recipient less worried.