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February 10, 2012
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Whooping Cough (cont.)

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Whooping Cough Prognosis

Complications of whooping cough are most commonly seen in children younger than 1 year of age, with an increased risk of severe whooping cough in premature infants.

  • Between 1999-2003, 17,000 cases of whooping cough in children under 2 years of age required hospitalization.


  • Among all pertussis hospitalizations during 1994-2003 in children under 2 years of age, 92% occurred in infants under 6 months of age.


  • In 2001-2003, 16% of whooping cough cases in children and adults required hospitalization.


  • In 2009, 14 deaths due to whooping cough were reported by the CDC.


  • Bacterial pneumonia is the most common complication of whooping cough. It is also the most common cause of pertussis-related deaths. Between the years 2001-2003, 4.9% of all people with whooping cough developed a bacterial pneumonia -- 17% were infants younger than 6 months of age.


  • Other complications include bluish skin from lack of oxygen, collapse of a lung, sinusitis, otitis media (ear infection), dehydration, nosebleed, bruising, hernias, retinal detachment, rectal prolapse, seizures, diseases of the brain, and failure to thrive.

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Whooping Cough - Symptoms

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Pertussis »

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a respiratory tract infection characterized by a paroxysmal cough.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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