Final answer:
A child with pertussis, or whooping cough, exhibits severe coughing and is admitted by a nurse amidst a resurgence of the disease due to decreased vaccination rates. Vaccines like DTaP and Tdap are critical for preventing outbreaks. Public health efforts focus on increasing vaccination coverage to protect against pertussis.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse is admitting a school-aged child who has pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial disease. Despite widespread vaccination efforts, which have effectively reduced pertussis cases historically, there has been a recent reemergence of the disease. This uptick is partly due to lower vaccination rates and exemptions based on personal beliefs. In communities with lower vaccination rates, such as certain affluent areas or among populations with accessibility challenges, there is an increased risk of outbreaks.
Pertussis is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The illness is particularly severe in infants and children, and is characterized by a mucus accumulation in the lungs and prolonged severe coughing episodes, sometimes followed by a 'whoop' sound. While antibiotics like erythromycin can be effective in early stages, prevention through the DTaP and Tdap vaccines is considered a more effective strategy.
Reducing the spread of pertussis is imperative, not only to protect the directly affected communities but also to prevent transmission to more vulnerable populations, where the impact can be more severe. Vaccination not only protects the individual but also contributes to the broader public health by preventing potential outbreaks.