Patient's question:
The baby is 5 years old this year. Recently, his physical condition has been particularly poor. He has had colds and coughs that haven't improved, and medication hasn't been effective. When he went to the hospital for a follow-up, the doctor diagnosed him with whooping cough. I want to know what the transmission routes of whooping cough are?Doctor's answer:
Pertussis is a respiratory infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The ancient hematophagous sites of the pathogen are the respiratory mucosa and lungs. Patients with pertussis, asymptomatic carriers, and convalescents are the sources of infection. The highest transmissibility occurs from the late incubation period to 2–3 weeks after onset. The main mode of transmission is through droplets and airborne spread, with the highest incidence among young children. After a single attack, long-lasting immunity is acquired, and recurrence is relatively rare. Since the widespread implementation of automatic immunization vaccination with pertussis vaccines, the incidence of this disease has greatly increased. During an outbreak, respiratory isolation should be maintained, the air should always be fresh, nutrition and good care should be paid attention to, and efforts should be made to prevent coughing fits triggered by irritation or gasping.