*Wooping+Cough

Dana Putzer


 * Whooping Cough**

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an extremely contagious respiratory tract infection.
 * //What is it?//**

Once you have been affected with whooping cough it can take up to 3 weeks for you to show any symptoms. The symptoms start out fairly mild and are commonly mistaken for a simple cold. The beginning symptoms may include: Runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, red or watery eyes, a mild fever, and dry cough. After the first week symptoms will worsen including: extreme fatigue, red or blue face, vomiting, and a whooping sound occurring when you inhale. Deaths associated with whooping cough are rare but most commonly occur in infants. It is very important that you get the vaccine before coming in contact with anyone who has it.Whooping cough is caused by the inhalation of airborne droplets of someone infected with pertussis. A person with pertussis who coughs or sneezes around an unvaccinated person may spread the disease readily.
 * //Symptoms//**

//**Whooping cough today**// Recently whooping cough has becoming more of an issue because some parents refuse to have their children vaccinated. People who travel into the US illegally may not have received whooping cough vaccinations and may carry the disease into the country. Having a weak immune system can put you at a higher risk in catching whooping cough. If you are having symptoms of whooping cough you should always check with you doctor immediately especially for a newborn or child.

//**Where it all started**// Between 1616-1619 it's believed that the plague, smallpox, cholera, measles, hepatitis, and whooping cough transmitted by Europeans were responsible for the Indian deaths. Red clover, a perennial, had been used by Native Americans to treat whooping cough.

Sources: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-causes-whooping-cough.htm http://www.mpbn.net/homestom/timelines/natamtimeline.html