The Epidemiology Of An Infectious Disease - 1499 Words

During this assignment, I will be exploring the epidemiology of an infectious disease found on the Public Health Agency of Canada website known as Pertussis. This particular disease is also known as Whooping Cough due to the sound made while inhaling during a coughing spell. The information contained in this report will be taken from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website which can be found at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca. SUMMARY ABOUT PERTUSSIS AGENT OF DISEASE Pertussis is caused by â€Å"bordetella pertussis† which is a Gram-negative aerobic bacterium. Toxins from the bacteria are what cause the majority of the signs and symptoms of the disease. After entering the body, Pertussis can take as little as seven days, and as much as 28†¦show more content†¦After the paroxysmal stage is the final stage called the convalescent stage. During this stage, the patient will enter into their recovery period. In some cases this period can last for an extensive period including months before a full recovery is seen. While all ages may acquire Pertussis, it is increasingly higher risk to one’s health when in the infant stages of life without any vaccinations. Infants who contract pertussis may experience very serious symptoms that may end in brain damage, convulsions, weight loss, and pneumonia. In the worst of circumstances death may also result. METHODS OF TRANSMISSION AND COMMUNICABILITY PERIOD Pertussis is a highly contagious. Pertussis is easily spread from the infected person to someone else in close proximity through the fluids, respiratory droplets, released while coughing or sneezing. Additionally the infected person can spread the bacteria by contaminating none living objects, but this is far less likely. On average it can take 9 to 10 days to incubate but the duration can be seen in as little as 6 days and as long as 20 days. When considering the timeframe in which a person could have been infected it can date back as far as 42 days but this would be a rare case. Once the diagnosis is made for pertussis a patient is placed on antibiotics. Until a patient has been on a treatment plan with antibiotics for at least 5 days they are considered infectious. If a