Medical Insider – Dr. Bryan Cepedoza
PERTUSSIS
(Part 5)
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): We are still in our discussion of Pertussis, Dr. Bryan. Do we have stages of this illness?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Yes. There stages of this disease. The first one is the incubation period. That will take 7-10 days but the 7-10 day period is already infectious. Actually there are 3 stages for this disease: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent.The of the first stage are mild and may go unnoticed. The second stage is characterized by episodes of coughing with a distinctive “whooping” sound when breathing in.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): I see.
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: So, after an incubation period of 1 to 3 weeks, pertussis infection typically progresses through three distinct stages. In other words, the incubation period of pertussis will range from 3-12 days. The disease is a 6-week disease divided into the 3 stages with each stage lasting from 1-2 weeks. Older children, adolescents, and adults may not exhibit distinct stages.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Is there a longest stage of Pertussis?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: As i said, the whooping cough usually causes cold symptoms that last for 1 to 2 weeks. This will be followed by up to 3 months of severe coughing. The last stage will be few weeks of recovery with gradual clearing of symptoms. However, in some cases, especially among children, the recovery period can last for months.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): I heard that Pertussis used to be called the 100 day cough. Why so?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: Yes, Pertussis was named the 100-day cough. Why? It is because because it can last for weeks or months. It usually starts like the common cold with a runny nose, sneezing, and sometimes, fever. Then, after 1 to 2 weeks, severe coughing starts. The cough often ends with a whooping sound.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Dr. Bryan, I heard the story of a friend who told me that when he had a whooping cough, his face would turn purple or bluish due to coughing. Is this possible?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: That is very possible. We call it in the dialect nga MANGLAGOM NA GYUD ANG PASYENTE UG INUTONG.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Again, what is the best treatment for Pertussis, Dr. Bryan?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: The best treatment for Pertussis would be antibiotics Macrolide, Azithromycin . These are the first line na Anti Pertussis antibiotics.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): Is it true that if the cough is caused by a virus, there is no need for antibiotics, Dr. Bryan?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: We still have to prescribe medication to those who are diagnosed as having Pertussis even if the coughing is mild. Why? It is because the patient becomes infectious with the disease but if properly cured, then, we would not anymore have any problem of infection.
The Bohol Tribune (TBT): You are the real expert, Dr. Bryan. When a person has the first sign of a cough, does that mean he has Pertussis? How would one know that the person’s cough is already Pertussis?
Dr. Bryan Cepedoza: If you are not a medical doctor, it is difficult to determine if the cough is Pertussis or not. But if you are a doctor of Medicine, you would know that one of the signs of Pertussis would be the sound of the whooping cough.