Preview

Vaccine and Pertussis Spreads

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1194 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Vaccine and Pertussis Spreads
Shaala D. Kirkby
K. Burgan
Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
12 September 2011 Pertussis

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.
Pertussis spreads faster in Hispanics and Asians, then in Caucasians, African Americans, and Persians. But Caucasians, African Americans and Persians are more likely to die from Pertussis, then Hispanics and Asians; doctors have not figured out why.

Bordetella Pertussis the bacteria invades the nose and throat and then the trachea followed by the bronchial tubes of the lungs causes’ pertussis. People usually contract the bacteria through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Then people inhale or been exposed to the infected saliva. People who have been immunized in the past may still develop infection but it is usually uncommon or very mild that is another cause of whooping cough. “The incubation period is usually about 4 - 21 days.” (CDC, 2011)

Pertussis is a round-shaped gram-positive bacterium. Some of the symptoms of Pertussis include runny nose, coughing that may be dry or may produce phlegm. Along with a fever typically 102°F or higher. Severe coughing attacks that ends in a high-pitched crowing sound when inhaling or it will end in a high-pitched "whoop". The coughing spells may end in a brief loss of consciousness and or vomiting. It also results in difficulty at breathing. It also can cause some people to have diarrhea. “When some small infants have, long spells of coughing, usually begin to cry which causes them to choke on their own tears.” (California Public Health, 2010)

DTaP can treat pertussis, which is a vaccine that protects children, newborn to 18 years old against the disease.



Cited: 1). CDC, “Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccination”, (July, 2011), September 1, 2011 < http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/>. 2). California Public Health, “Cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough)”, (2010), August 29, 2011 <http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/pages/pertussis.aspx> 3). Med-Line Plus, “Pertussis”, (November 2, 2009), August 30, 2011 < http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001561.htm> 4). Iowa Public Health, “Pertussis Outbreak Management Through Epidemiological Principles”, PowerPoint, pages 39, (2008), August 27, 2011 <http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/ pertussis.asp> 5). Steven Reinberg, HealthDay, “Whooping cough outbreaks show many not vaccinated”, (October 17, 2010), September 3, 2011 < http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/2010-10-17-whooping-cough_N.htm>

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Pertussis is a respiratory tract infection that is very contagious. It got its name because of the sharp high-pitched intake of air that makes a “whooping” sound that follows a fit of coughs. It was originally considered a childhood disease but now it affects those children that are too young to have completed vaccination and those who have slowly lost the immunity to it. This can cause death in infants, which is why pregnant women should be vaccinated against it. Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. It produces many virulence factors including the pertussis toxin and since it can be transmitted through droplets, it can go from person to person making it highly contagious. When the infected person coughs or sneezes, the droplets in the air can be taken in by anyone nearby.…

    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Unit 202 Element 1.2

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The symptoms are similar to a cold and cough, with the cough gradually getting worse.…

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    While there are many epidemiology topics to choose from in Maricopa County, the one I chose is Pertussis also called and known as whooping cough. Whooping cough is caused by exposure to bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. It is considered a vaccine-preventable disease. It is highly contagious and is spread from droplet contact from the nose and throat of an infected person. The signs and symptoms of the disease begin 7 to 10 days after exposure. The symptoms begin with a mild cough and cold. It then progresses to severe episodes of coughing spasms that can lead to vomiting due to the coughing. The coughing episodes can last for several months. A person is considered contagious during the first 21 days after the onset of coughing. Once treatment begins with the appropriate antibiotic, the contagious/infectious period shortens to 5 days. Serious complications of whooping cough include pneumonia, seizures, middle ear infection, dehydration, encephalopathy and/or brain damage, and death.…

    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Miriam Galvan

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The infection is prevalent in various countries around the world: South East Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, and the Indian Subcontinent. Periodically, the infection also appears in developed countries. Individuals who reside in unsanitary and overly crowded conditions, lack diphtheria immunization, and are mal nourished are at high risk to contract the infection (Martin, 2012). In the United States, the Native American population is the group with most reported cases in the past. Nevertheless, there are no current focused population groups as of today. Prior to the diphtheria vaccination, the amount of new cases and infections in the United States ranged from 100,000 to 200,000 annually. The mortality rate was around 15,000 deaths each year. Reported cases decreased dramatically due to the vaccination. Although outbreaks are unusual today, they still occur globally and mortality rates range between 5% and 10%.…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This swells and blocks air getting into the lungs. Symptoms in adults include severe sore throat, fever, muffled or lost voice, and difficulty of swallowing. The most common cause of it is Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), which is also the same bacterium that causes pneumonia, meningitis, and infections in the bloodstream. This disease is more common in children than adults but it still occurs in adults. The reason for this is because children have a weaker immune system so they are more likely to get the bacterium infection Haemophilus influenzae type b. In today’s day, majority of children get a three to four dose vaccine at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and sometimes a booster shot between 12 and 15 months. This is for Haemophilus influenzae type b. This vaccine protects against the bacteria, make the chances of getting the virus are very…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whooping Cough

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing. The coughing can make it hard to breathe. A deep "whooping" sound is often heard when the patient tries to take a breath.…

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Also, Tuberculosis (also known as TB) is a disease caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. When someone with untreated Tuberculosis coughs or sneezes, the air is filled with droplets containing bacteria. Inhaling these infected droplets is the usual way a person gets TB. Tuberculosis was one of the most dreaded diseases of the 19th century. TB was the eighth leading cause of death in children 1-4 years of age during the 1920’s.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whooping cough disease starts like the common cold, with a runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and maybe a mild cough or fever. Later on, severe coughing will begin.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pertussis- Essay

    • 504 Words
    • 3 Pages

    More commonly known as whooping cough, Pertussis is a contagious infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Bordatella Pertussis. Thick mucus accumulates in the airways, provoking heavy coughing spells. Pertussis can be spread via droplet. The infected person may sneeze or cough and the tiny germ droplets may be inhaled by any bystander. Whooping cough was seen mostly in children before, but after the development of vaccines against it the infection is found in many teens or adults whose immunity has faded and babies. Although death from Pertussis is rare, it is important for pregnant women especially to be vaccinated against the infection.…

    • 504 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Research Paper On Asthma

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages

    •Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Pertussis

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Pertussis, or as some call it whooping cough, is a well-known childhood respiratory infection that is caused by the bacterium bordetella pertussis (CDC). When an individual attempts to inhale air, the noise that is produced due to the inflamed and swollen laryngeal structures is where the name Whooping cough originates from. When someone exhibits vomiting while coughing, high fever, trouble while breathing, and or cyanosis they may be affected by…

    • 359 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pertussis Significance

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The mode of transmission is airborne, by way of an infected person sneezing or coughing. The droplets from the sneeze or cough contains the bordetella pertussis bacteria moving through the air within the environment making it easy to transmit to an uninfected person. The disease typically lasts 6 weeks, but can last as long as 10 weeks. It is important to understand pertussis so that if anything remotely relating to the symptoms of pertussis occur such as: common cold, severe coughing, whoop noise, runny nose, slight fever and or diarrhea the patient understanding will lead him or her to contact their health provider. In older children, the prognosis is usually very good, infants are the highest at risk (Kaneshiro & Zieve,…

    • 1240 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Autism and Vaccines

    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Lewis, Shannon. "Update on Autism and Vaccines." Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services 48.6 (2010): 15-8. ProQuest. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.…

    • 1370 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since measles was declared eliminated in the United States after January 1, 2000, there have been 18 published measles studies and more than half had no history of measles vaccination. Of the 970 measles cases, 574 cases were unvaccinated despite being vaccine eligible and 405 had nonmedical exemptions (for religious or philosophical reasons). Among the 32 reports of pertussis outbreaks, which included 10,609 individuals ranging in age from 10 days to 87 years. However, several pertussis outbreaks also occurred in highly vaccinated populations, indicating waning immunity. A substantial proportion of the US measles cases were intentionally unvaccinated. Although pertussis resurgence has been attributed to waning immunity and other factors, vaccine refusal was still associated with an increased risk for…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    However, in many communities and cultures, vaccination rates for individuals, particularly children have dropped below the necessary bar to maintain group immunity. The spread of measles and whooping cough is on the rise because the number of parents who have conflicting beliefs and ideals towards inoculation is on the rise. Pertussis affected more than 9,000 Californians in 2012, and killed ten infants. ( http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/discond/pages/pertussis.aspx) This followed a decline in Dtap vaccinations. This is directly related to the decrease in parental acceptance toward government imposed vaccinations. Some parents may believe that the vaccinations are themselves unsafe. This belief shapes their ideals, and inevitably their…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays