Whooping Cough

New discovery may lead the way to improved whooping cough vaccine

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have made novel discoveries concerning the current vaccine against whooping cough that may lead to the development of an improved future vaccine. The findings could help reduce the incidence ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 13, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Parents who veto vaccinations often seek like-minded opinions

(HealthDay)—Friends and family may be key in parents' decisions on whether to vaccinate their young children, a small study suggests.

Pediatrics created Apr 15, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

More evidence whooping cough protection wanes

(HealthDay)—Despite high levels of vaccination, the rate of whooping cough in the United States is at its highest level in decades, and one reason may be that immunity from the vaccine diminishes each year ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Mar 11, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

A vaccine that works in newborns? Promising compound may help protect babies during vulnerable window

The underdeveloped immune systems of newborns don't respond to most vaccines, leaving them at high risk for infections like rotavirus, pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumococcus. Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital ...

Immunology created Mar 04, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New whooping cough strain in US raises questions

Researchers have discovered the first U.S. cases of whooping cough caused by a germ that may be resistant to the vaccine.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Feb 06, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Too few adults get recommended vaccines, CDC says

(HealthDay)—Vaccines aren't just for kids, and most American adults aren't getting their recommended vaccinations, federal health officials said Tuesday.

Health created Jan 30, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Nearly half of children under two years of age receive some vaccinations late

In a new study published today in JAMA Pediatrics (formerly Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine), Kaiser Permanente researchers found that 49 percent of children ages 2-24 months did not receive all recommended v ...

Health created Jan 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Childhood vaccine schedule is safe, report says

(HealthDay)—The standard vaccine schedule for young children in the United States is safe and effective, a new review says.

Medications created Jan 16, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

American College of Physicians calls for immunizations for all health care providers

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has approved a policy recommendation that all health care providers (HCPs) be immunized against influenza; diphtheria; hepatitis B; measles, mumps, and rubella; pertussis (whooping ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Sugar fights still simmer as new brain study finds fructose might stimulate appetite

Fructose, a sugar much maligned in recent years, recently took another hit when a preliminary study by Yale University found that it might stimulate appetite more than other sugar types. The results came ...

Health created Jan 14, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Game-based economics research explains why we roll the dice on flu shots

With 41 states having reported widespread and severe outbreaks of flu this season, timely new research sheds light on why less than half of the American population has gotten a flu shot.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 11, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study identifies infants at highest risk of death from pertussis

A study released today from the upcoming issue of the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (JPIDS) found that taking early and repeated white blood cell counts (WBC) is critical in determining whether infant ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 10, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

2012 was worst year for whooping cough since 1955

Health officials say 2012 was the nation's worst year for whooping cough in nearly six decades.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 04, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

States lagging in emergency preparedness, report shows

(HealthDay)—While significant progress has been made in the past 10 years, many states still fall short in their preparedness for public health emergencies such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters and ...

Health created Dec 19, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Cases of whooping cough in US highest in decades

Pertussis is at its highest level nationally in a half-century. But cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, often decline in late fall into early winter.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Dec 17, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Pertussis, also known as whooping cough ( /ˈhuːpɪŋ kɒf/ or /ˈhwuːpɪŋ kɒf/), is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. In some countries, this disease is called the 100 days' cough or cough of 100 days.

Symptoms are initially mild, and then develop into severe coughing fits, which produce the namesake high-pitched "whoop" sound in infected babies and children when they inhale air after coughing. The coughing stage lasts for approximately six weeks before subsiding.

Prevention via vaccination is of primary importance as treatment is of little clinical benefit to the person infected. Antibiotics, however, do decrease the duration of infectiousness and are thus recommended. It is estimated that the disease currently affects 48.5 million people yearly, resulting in nearly 295,000 deaths.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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