PERTUSSIS
- SCI & TECH
News:
What explains the recent spike in whooping cough cases in
the US and Europe?
What's
in the news?
●
In
the winter of 2023, health experts across the European continent started
noticing something weird. Cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis,
were rising.
Pertussis:
●
It
is commonly known as whooping cough,
and has seen a significant surge in Europe,
with approximately 32,000 cases reported between January and March 2024.
Causal
Organism - Bacterium Bordetella
pertussis
Transmission:
●
Whooping
cough spreads easily from person to
person through coughing, sneezing, or close contact.
Symptoms:
●
In
its early stages, pertussis symptoms resemble those of a common cold, including
a runny nose, low-grade fever, sneezing, and occasional cough.
●
As
the infection progresses, severe coughing fits develop, often accompanied by a
high-pitched “whoop” sound.
Treatment - Diphtheria,
tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines.