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Whooping Cough And Its Effects On Children

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Whooping cough
JennaKay Richardson
Career College of Northern Nevada

Whooping Cough Every year thousands of adults, children, and infants contract a dangerous and highly contagious bacterial disease. This disease is called pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, and it affects the upper respiratory tract. Pertussis gets the name whooping cough because of the "whoop" sound made by those infected with the bacteria. Whooping cough is a disease that is specific only to humans and has a greater affect on children or those with a weak immune system. Those who already have a respiratory ailment such as COPD are also at a greater risk. The CDC states that whooping cough is caused by bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to a person 's cilia, or tiny hairs, that line the upper respiratory tract. They then release a toxin that causes damage to these cilia as well as swelling to the respiratory tract. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is transferred from person to person. "People with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria. Many infants who get pertussis are infected by older siblings, parents or caregivers who might not even know they have the disease" (Vaccines.gov n.d.). According to the CDC symptoms of pertussis usually begin to show up within five to ten days after exposure to the bacteria, but it can take

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