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Questions and Answers
What is the causative agent of seasonal flu and whooping cough?
Seasonal flu is caused by various strains of influenza virus, while whooping cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
What are the symptoms of seasonal flu?
The symptoms of seasonal flu include fever, headache, muscle aches, severe tiredness, sore throat, cough, and sometimes sickness and diarrhea.
What differentiates whooping cough from a common cold?
Whooping cough starts with symptoms similar to a common cold but evolves into coughing fits that end in a 'whooping' sound when the person breathes in.
How is seasonal flu spread from person to person?
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What is the most contagious period for someone infected with whooping cough?
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What measures can be taken to prevent the spread of seasonal flu and whooping cough?
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What are the recommended vaccines for seasonal flu and whooping cough?
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What is the most effective way to shorten a whooping cough infection?
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Why are antibiotics still important for whooping cough even if given later?
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Who is most at risk of complications like pneumonia from whooping cough?
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What is the most common way chickenpox is spread?
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Why is chickenpox more severe in adults than in children?
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What is the most noticeable symptom of chickenpox?
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What causes scarlet fever?
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What is the most noticeable symptom of chickenpox?
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Why is it important to treat whooping cough with antibiotics, even if given later?
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Who is at risk of complications like pneumonia from whooping cough?
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What causes mumps?
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What age group is most commonly affected by scarlet fever?
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What are the symptoms of scarlet fever?
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How is chickenpox mainly spread?
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Study Notes
Comparison of Seasonal Flu and Whooping Cough: Symptoms, Spread, Treatment, and Prevention
- Seasonal flu is caused by various strains of influenza virus, while whooping cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
- The symptoms of seasonal flu include fever, headache, muscle aches, severe tiredness, sore throat, cough, and sometimes sickness and diarrhea. Whooping cough starts with symptoms similar to a common cold but evolves into coughing fits that end in a "whooping" sound when the person breathes in.
- Seasonal flu often occurs in epidemics, especially in winter, and spreads from person to person by cough and sneeze. Whooping cough is highly contagious and spreads from person to person through tiny drops of fluid from an infected person's nose or mouth.
- There is no specific treatment for seasonal flu, but remedies are available to ease the symptoms. Children should not be given any preparations containing aspirin. Antibiotics shorten the period of contagiousness to 5 days following the start of antibiotic treatment for whooping cough. Infected people are most contagious during the earliest stages of the illness up to about 2 weeks after the cough begins.
- Children affected by seasonal flu should be encouraged to rest and drink plenty of water or other fluids, cover their mouths when coughing, use paper tissues when sneezing, and practice hand washing. The same measures apply to whooping cough, and infected children may need help with breathing and feeding during coughing fits.
- Each year vaccines against the likely common types of the influenza virus are prepared and should be given to people at risk, particularly the elderly and those with chronic heart, chest or kidney diseases. Healthy children and adults do not need immunization for seasonal flu, although children with asthma should be protected. Whooping cough can be prevented with the pertussis vaccine, which is part of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) immunization.
- Children who have not received all five doses of the pertussis vaccine may require a booster dose if exposed to an infected family member. Experts believe that up to 80% of non-immunized family members will develop whooping cough if they live in the same house as someone who has the infection.
- Although not everyone who becomes infected with B. pertussis will develop the characteristic coughing episodes with their accompanying whoop, infants and younger children are more likely to have severe symptoms, including gasping for air, reddened face, and even stop breathing for a few seconds during particularly bad fits.
- Seasonal flu can be accompanied or followed by chest infections that can be severe, while whooping cough can cause prolonged symptoms that may last for months in some children.
- To make a diagnosis of whooping cough, the doctor will take a medical history, do a thorough physical exam, and take nose and throat mucus samples that will be examined and cultured
Common Childhood Illnesses and Their Symptoms
- Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics for about 2 weeks, and early treatment is most effective in shortening the infection.
- Antibiotics for whooping cough are still important even if given later, as they can stop the spread of the infection to others.
- Hospitalization may be required for some children with whooping cough, especially infants and younger children at risk of complications like pneumonia.
- Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus and is highly infectious, mainly spread through coughing and sneezing or direct contact with blisters.
- Chickenpox in adults is more severe than in children and can be a problem in pregnancy.
- The rash is the most noticeable symptom of chickenpox, starting as raised red spots that develop into small blisters and scab over in 3-4 days.
- Chickenpox is mainly a disease of children and is usually mild, but highly infectious, and a child who has had it will be immune for life.
- Mumps is an infectious viral disease that mainly affects the salivary glands, causing swelling and discomfort in the face.
- Mumps typically affects children but can affect any age group and is spread through coughing, sneezing, or contact with saliva.
- Scarlet fever is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus A and often affects children between the ages of 2 and 10 years.
- Scarlet fever begins with a sore throat, headache, and fever, followed by a rash that breaks out on the second day and lasts 3-6 days.
- The rash of scarlet fever starts with tiny bright red spots on the neck and chest and spreads over the body, but not the face. The tongue often has a thick white coating that peels after four or five days.
Common Childhood Illnesses and Their Symptoms
- Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics for about 2 weeks, and early treatment is most effective in shortening the infection.
- Antibiotics for whooping cough are still important even if given later, as they can stop the spread of the infection to others.
- Hospitalization may be required for some children with whooping cough, especially infants and younger children at risk of complications like pneumonia.
- Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus and is highly infectious, mainly spread through coughing and sneezing or direct contact with blisters.
- Chickenpox in adults is more severe than in children and can be a problem in pregnancy.
- The rash is the most noticeable symptom of chickenpox, starting as raised red spots that develop into small blisters and scab over in 3-4 days.
- Chickenpox is mainly a disease of children and is usually mild, but highly infectious, and a child who has had it will be immune for life.
- Mumps is an infectious viral disease that mainly affects the salivary glands, causing swelling and discomfort in the face.
- Mumps typically affects children but can affect any age group and is spread through coughing, sneezing, or contact with saliva.
- Scarlet fever is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus A and often affects children between the ages of 2 and 10 years.
- Scarlet fever begins with a sore throat, headache, and fever, followed by a rash that breaks out on the second day and lasts 3-6 days.
- The rash of scarlet fever starts with tiny bright red spots on the neck and chest and spreads over the body, but not the face. The tongue often has a thick white coating that peels after four or five days.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the differences between seasonal flu and whooping cough in this informative quiz. Explore the symptoms, spread, treatment, and prevention of these two illnesses caused by different pathogens. Learn about the importance of vaccines, hand washing, and proper hygiene to protect yourself and others from these contagious diseases. Take the quiz now and see how much you know about seasonal flu and whooping cough.
