Disease Pathology Clinical Impression: Pertussis Term Paper

However, since the patient is a 5-week-old male, he should be kept away from anyone who is coughing since they are at higher risk of life-threatening consequences.

3. What therapy would you suggest for this patient?

Hospital admission is indicated for this patient since he is a 5-week-old infant and has not received the vaccine against pertussis. Recommended treatment by the 2005 CDC Guidelines include a 5-day course of azithromycin given at 10 mg/kg/day. Other macrolide treatment such as clarithromycin and erythromycin is not recommended for infants for development of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). It is important also to treat a patient below 12 months within 3 weeks of onset of cough to avoid complications such as pneumonia, otitis media and meningitis.4. Clinically, the cough may persist for some time following therapy. Give possible reasons why a cough may persist in the face of therapy?

Coughing may persist for some time following therapy if aerosolized in the form of salbutamol is used which may serve as irritant to the respiratory mucosa. Underdosaging of drugs may not totally eradicate the bacteria, making them more adherent to the respiratory epithelium, thus, causing the symptoms.

References

Berhman, R. et. al. (2007). Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics 17th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders.

Brocka, J. (2008) Pediatrics, Pertussis. Retrieved on April 24, 2008 from EMedicine. http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic394.htm

Tewari, T., et al. (2005) Recommended Antimocrobial Agents for the Treatment and Post-exposure Prophylaxis of Pertussis 2005 CDC Guidelines. Retrieved on April.....