Pertussis Research Papers

There are many different childhood diseases out there. Each one of these affects the child in a different way. However some of these diseases occur more often than others. So when narrowing down which topic to write about for this pediatric paper I decided to write about one that is more common and more than likely not very well known, despite being common. So it is for that reason that I chose to write about pertussis.

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.

Whooping cough (pertussis) has been on the rise in the United States in recent years. Last year the CDC reported 28,660 cases of whooping cough in the U.S. alone. With cases increasing annually, protecting infants is imperative in controlling the disease. Understanding the signs and symptoms of whooping cough along with the recommended protocol for immunization can mean the difference between life and death for children in your home or care.

Parents today I will explain the importance of vaccinating your child for the whooping cough. I will begin with the explanation of how, we as a country get the statistics on this particular disease. Also I will tell you what exactly is whooping cough and some symptoms involved. Incidence and prevalence are terms usually utilized as a part of relating disease of epidemiology.

Bordetella pertussis also known as whooping cough."Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacillus capsulate of the genus Bordetella, and the causative agent of pertussis or whooping cough." This is one of the most common diseases in children, but can affect all ages. In the 1940's there was over 200,000 cases reported. "The bacteria attach to the cilia of the respiratory epithelial cells, produce toxins that paralyze the cilia, and cause inflammation of the respiratory tract, which interferes with the clearing of pulmonary secretions." (https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/disease-specifics.html).

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a bacterium, Bordatella pertussis. In 2010 it affected 27, 5501 individuals and was responsible for 262 deaths in the United States. Bordatella pertussis colonizes in the cilia of the respiratory tract3 producing uncontrollable coughing with paroxysms (fits) followed with a high pitched intake of air creating a whoop sound, posttussive emesis (cough induced vomiting), and exhaustion.3 These symptoms can last up to 10 weeks.3 Adults can transfer Pertussis to infants who are not fully immunized, subsequently, they are at a greater risk and may have serious complications from Pertussis including pneumonia and death.4

Yes, Pertussis is a disease that is only found in humans which is transferred by body fluids (“Causes and Transmission,” 2015).

What is pertussis, commonly known as “whooping cough”? Whooping cough is an infection of the respiratory

people are vaccinated and health or medical care is less accessible. Pertussis infects a large number of people yearly, and in part have killed many. Schools are also a place of concern for uninfected children to become infected. According to ("Old college try applying", 2015) schools and day cares have had the most concentrated number of cases of pertussis. Preventative measure are imperative so that children do not get the disease.

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.

It is a small, fastidious gram-negative bacteria that easily invades respiratory tract producing a number of antigens and toxins such as pertussis toxin (PT), tracheal cytotoxin, filamentous hemagglutin and pertactin that binds and destroys the pharyngeal epithelial cells (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Bordatella Pertussis, p 206). As a result, triggers the immune system response. B. Pertussis portal of entry is through the mouth, nose and throat and it is primarily transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets with an infected individual or aerosol droplets and rarely fomites (Brunner & Suddarth 2010, p. 2149). Bordatella pertussis is a human disease and adolescents and adults are the main reservoirs (CDC, p. 206). The disease has high infectivity, high pathogenicity and low virulence.

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

Although there are many controversies with vaccines, they can help protect us. Vaccines work by exposing individuals safely to a germ, such as from a particular virus, so their immune system can produce antibodies to fend off a particular virus (Lemmons, 172). Producing immunity from 90 percent to 100 percent of the time, childhood vaccines not only have personal benefits, but also, for entire communities and the future of public health (Childhood).

The bacteria is spread when a person with an active infection in their lungs coughs or sneezes and another person inhales the air containing the bacteria. The bacteria go on to infect white blood cells called phagoyctes. These may become affected, however, the body 's immune response will seal off the infected cells in the lungs. The bacteria can become dormant inside the tubercules of the lung and therefore the infected person may not show any symptoms or signs as the infection is