Pertussis Research Paper

Cause: Whooping Cough, also known as Pertussis, is a highly contagious disease affecting the respiratory system (nose, throat, lungs and airways) and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The ‘whoop’ from the cough derives from the deep breaths at the end of each bout of coughing. Whooping cough is very infectious and affects individuals of all ages.

Yes and no. The vaccination that is available for Pertussis only provides patients with immunity for a limited time (“Whopping cough,” 2017). Due to the fact that the immunity provided through the vaccination is only for a limited time patients must get booster shots in order to maintain their immunity.

There are several diseases around the world that have not gone away in the last few decades. For instance, HIV, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and more commonly, the Flu, and Measles are deadly diseases that still exist today. However, getting vaccinated will help fight off the disease as the vaccine releases antibodies into your bloodstream. Experts from MedlinePlus say that Pertussis, Diphtheria, and Tetanus are caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and pertussis can be spread to people from coughing and sneezing. Tetanus enters through cut and wounds. Also according to MedlinePlus, “Before vaccines, as many as 200,000 cases a year of diphtheria, 200,000 cases of pertussis, and hundreds of cases of tetanus, were reported in the United States each

Once vaccinated, the person is protected from whooping cough for roughly 10 years and needs to receive the Tdap booster vaccine again. (Tdap- Tetanus and Diphtheria). This is a negative aspect as one vaccination doesn't provide a lifelong solution to Pertussis.

For instance, pertussis, or commonly known as whooping cough, “Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection (cdc.gov).” This infection may resemble a common cold; however, it quickly turns into a more serious illness, causing babies or those with compromised immune systems to stop breathing and can become fatal. Babies cannot receive this vaccination until they are two months of age. Most babies who have whooping cough catch it from their caregivers or other family members. Whooping cough spreads easily from person to person, through coughing and sneezing, usually people who spread whooping cough are unaware that they even have it. The best way to prevent this is to receive the pertussis vaccination, DTaP in children and TDaP in adults. If you have received the vaccination in the past, it is always best to ask your health care provider if you are in need of a booster vaccination. Much like other vaccinations, the boosters are just as important as the initial vaccination. The immunity can wear off over time leaving one susceptible to the

Whooping cough, which is also known as, Pertussis, is caused by infection by the Bordetella Pertussis bacteria. A highly contagious bacterial disease affects the respiratory system and produces spasms of coughing that usually end in a high-pitched whooping sound.

That being said, serious damage from vaccination is a rare occurrence (Malone and Hinaman). A Glanz study (2013) from the Vaccine Safety data link demonstrated a direct magnitude that as communities were under vaccinated for Pertussis, the risk of Pertusis increased. The study also showed a 28 times higher rate of Pertussis in children that had no Pertussis vaccination documentation (Glanz et al. 2913). This study as well as an intense list of data by the CDC emulates supportive data for the effectiveness of vaccinations.

The most effective way to protect a person against many diseases, such as measles, pertussis, polio, and chickenpox, is to get vaccinated. Doctors and scientists all over the world highly recommend vaccines and, being that they have spent years studying health, their recommendations stand reliable. Omer Saad, a professor and researcher who has been involved in many projects on vaccinations in foreign countries, believes that “vaccines are among the most effective tools available for preventing infectious diseases” (1). The implementation of this technology has brought huge decreases in disease rates. Correspondingly, The University of Pittsburgh has conducted research on infectious disease statistics since 1888 and found that over 103 million cases of life threatening diseases have been prevented since 1924 (Welch 2). The Journal of the American Medical Association also found dramatic drops in infections and deaths associated with chickenpox, polio, and diphtheria and attributes these decreases to vaccine technology (Welch 2).

Bordetella pertussis is a bacterium that is the cause of the disease pertussis or “whooping cough.” Pertussis first appeared in the country of France around the year 1414. Two men, Jules Bordet and Octave Gengou, whom both were bacteriologists, first discovered the bacterium Bordetella pertussis in the year 1900 in Paris, France. They discovered the agent to whooping cough by obtaining liquid from a five-month-old child; however, they were not able to isolate the bacteria

Audience Hook: In the early 50’s polio paralyzed thousands, in the early 40’s Pertussis (whooping cough) caused 8000 deaths and there were millions of reported cases of measles before 1963. Thanks to immunization, the numbers of cases reported have declined tremendously and in some diseases, there are zero cases to report.

Early symptoms may include but are not limited to: runny nose, low-grade lingering fever, coughing, and apnea. That may not sound very bad but because pertussis in its early stages appears to be more like the common cold, it is often not diagnosed until the more severe symptoms appear. Pertussis can also cause violent coughing until the air is gone from the lungs. This extreme coughing can result in throwing up and exhaustion. The first pertussis vaccine was developed in the 1930s. The vaccine was in full use by the mid-1940s.

Before a vaccine was available, whooping cough (also known as pertussis) killed about 9,000 people in the US each year. Now, the pertussis vaccine has reduced the annual number of deaths to less than 30. Although the disease is still around, and continues to be on the rise across the globe.

Bordetella pertussis (known as whooping cough) was discovered by Bordet and Gengou as an acute respiratory tract infection. (1-2)

Pertussis is caused by Bordetella Pertussis, which attacks the lungs.While the bacteria are in the body it restricts airflow due to the excess mucus stuck in the passageways. The disease is highly contagious, fluid from the mouth and nose is where you are more likely to find traces of Pertussis. You have a higher chance of getting the infection if you have been around someone who already has it and you've come in contact with their sneeze, cough, and/or tears. Pertussis is separated into three stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent. In the catarrhal stage, you will begin to notice the child coughing, sneezing, and possibly run a fever. You will assume that your child has a common cold but it last around 1-2 weeks and will progress

During the first outbreaks of pertussis in the 16th century and prior to the development of vaccinations for the disease, it was a common cause of morbidity and mortality in children. When the whole cell vaccination (DTP) was developed in the 1930’s and widely distributed in 1940’s, in combination with the vaccine for tetanus and diphtheria, known as DTP, the incidence of cases dramatically decreased from 157 cases per 100, 000 population to less than 1 per 100,000 population. However, serious side effects were reported to be associated with the whole cell vaccine which led to the development of the acellular vaccination (DTaP) in 1996 (Pertussis. 2013, September 20).