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Pertussis Research Paper

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Pertussis is a very contagious bacterial disease that can spread from person to person through droplets from coughing and sneezing. “Pertussis can results in severe coughing attacks that can last for months and can also be a life-threatening disease for infants, who are too young to receive vaccinations against its risk (Calson & Swan 2013)”. Even though pertussis is known as being transmitted through the air, it can also be transmitted through handshakes with infected individuals as well as through materials handled by infected person to a non-infected person. Additionally, the pertussis disease can be transmitted to others before it develops symptoms in a person. Pertussis is known to have several risk factors which include children and …show more content…

“Pertussis which is commonly known as whooping cough, is also a respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Before vaccines to prevent the disease were available, pertussis was a major cause of morbidity and mortality in U.S. children (McGuness C. B. & et al 2013)”. Pertussis is a disease that can affect any age group of people, from older adults to infants and it also does not affect a particular gender. Even though pertussis is a respiratory disease and its germs can be spread through the air, however, there can be some lifestyle changes among those who are infected, to reduce or minimize the spread of the disease. For example, individuals infected can get plenty of rest by relaxing which will make them feel better; they can drink plenty of fluids to prevent them from becoming dehydrated; they can also avoid tobacco smoking areas which can trigger cough; and they can either wear masks or cover their mouths when coughing to prevent the spread of the germ. According to studies done on pertussis, it was “estimated that national incidence of diagnosed pertussis ranged from 2.1-4.6 cases per 100,000 people across the two age

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