Related articles: Pertussis
Definition
Pertussis is an infectious, highly contagious disease that mainly affects children, affecting the mucous membranes of the airway. After an incubation period of 1-2 weeks, the first symptoms of pertussis resemble those of a common cold (phlegm, low-grade fever, cough and poor appetite characterize the so-called catarral phase), but tend to worsen within 7-14 days. Especially at night, the cough becomes paroxysmal and characterized by a series of short strokes, followed by an involuntary inspiration that causes a sort of characteristic scream. Other symptoms induced by severe cough include epistaxis (nosebleeds), nausea and vomiting.Most common symptoms and signs *
- Anorexia
- Asthenia
- Catarrh
- Eyes reddened
- Cold
- Nosebleeds
- Cough
Further indications
The symptoms described above are typical of childhood, while in adults and adolescents the symptoms are more nuanced and often difficult to distinguish from a common bronchitis of viral origin.
