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  • Title: Could it be whooping cough?
    Author: Sturmberg JP, Watt P.
    Journal: Aust Fam Physician; 1999 Feb; 28(2):129-31. PubMed ID: 10048250.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Pertussis is an uncommon but serious illness, mainly affecting children under the age of 5 years. OBJECTIVE: Affected children usually contract the disease from older children or adults in whom the disease presents in an atypical way, their coughing being attributed to other aliments. This article discusses the epidemiology, clinical course and management of pertussis. Prophylaxis is also discussed. DISCUSSION: Pertussis presents as a hacking, mostly nocturnal cough, before becoming constant and occurring in paroxysms. Even though children appear sick, they classically are afebrile. Erythromycin is the treatment of choice for affected children and their immediate family. Achieving a 90% vaccination coverage would eradicate pertussis, but booster vaccinations later in life have been proposed since the protection of vaccination wanes rapidly over a period of 6-10 years.
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