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...
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