A 6-month-old is being evaluated in the emergency department. The child appears cyanotic, has a whooping cough and is vomiting. The nurse suspects the child has:

Explanation

•Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection. It causes severe coughing fits (whooping cough) and vomiting that can last up to 6 weeks.

•Pertussis can be prevented with Dtap, a vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Once contracted, pertusis is treated with antibiotic therapy.

•Mycoplasma pneumonia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and rickettsia do not cause a whooping cough.

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