Question

9mo infant with severe coughing spells with loud inspiratory WHOOPS and VOMITING afterwards. 2wks ago she had a runny nose and dry cough. dx? cause? lab findings? tx? what does family members and contacts get?

Answer 1

The 9-month-old infant with severe coughing spells, 'whooping' on inhalation, and vomiting is likely suffering from pertussis or whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis. Treatment involves antibiotics. Close contacts should receive prophylactic antibiotics to prevent spread.

Step-by-step explanation:

The diagnosis for a 9-month-old infant with severe coughing spells followed by a loud inspiratory whoop and vomiting is likely pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. The cause of pertussis is Bordetella pertussis, a gram-negative coccobacillus. Lab findings may include a white blood cell count with a predominance of lymphocytes and identification of the bacteria via culture or PCR. The treatment for pertussis is antibiotics, with macrolides like azithromycin being commonly used. Family members and close contacts of the infant should also receive prophylactic antibiotics, regardless of their age or vaccination status, to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease.