Signs and symptoms of pertussis

Children very often get pertussis. The main symptom of the disease: a strong choking cough. Attacks can happen very often. In the interval between them, the symptoms can disappear completely. Pertussis is a very contagious disease and should be cured as soon as possible.

Pertussis is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacteria Bordetella( pertussis bacteria).The disease is characterized by a strong cough. Prior to the invention of the pertussis vaccine, up to 10,000 people died each year. Today, the annual number of deaths caused by whooping cough is around thirty.

In recent years, the number of cases has increased. In 2004, the incidence rate was equal to 1950.Mostly, children under six months of age fall ill. Vaccinations against pertussis are made at an older age. Another group of risk - children and adolescents aged 11 to 18 years with a weakened immune system.

Signs and symptoms of whooping cough

The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of colds. The patient has a runny nose, sneezing, a slight cough and a slight fever. After about a week, a slight cough is replaced by a strong cough. Coughing attacks can last more than a minute. At this time, the child's face may turn red or acquire a purple hue due to stress. Such attacks can result in vomiting. In the interval between the urge to cough, the child feels quite normal.

Pertussis infarction

Pertussis is a very contagious disease. Bacteria are transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets during sneezing, coughing or laughing. Infection occurs during inhalation or through the hands that children often like to take in their mouths.

Infected patients are most infectious in the early stages of the disease. Maximum infectiousness is observed within two weeks after the appearance of a cough. The period of infectiousness can be reduced to five days by taking antibiotics.

Pertussis can be prevented with the vaccine that is part of the DTP.DTP is a complex vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. DTP is injected regularly every year to six years. In total there are five vaccinations. To provide additional protection, in case of weakening of immunity, additional vaccines may be added at a later age. These vaccinations are usually put in at 11-12 years.

In families with pertussis disease of one family member, the risk of contracting other members who were not vaccinated to whooping cough is 80%.For this reason, anyone who comes into close contact with a sick whooping cough should take antibiotics to prevent the development of the disease. Young children who have not yet been given all five DTP vaccinations may need additional revaccination if they come into contact with infected family members.

The incubation period( the time between infection and the appearance of symptoms) for pertussis is usually 7 to 10 days, but it can stretch to 21 days.

Duration of pertussis disease

Whooping cough may cause prolonged symptoms. For the first or second week, the child usually has common symptoms of a cold. A strong cough appears later. This is the second stage of the disease, which usually lasts two more weeks. The last stage lasts a few more weeks and ends with complete recovery with the disappearance of all symptoms. Restorative period can last up to one month, depending on the ability of the child's immunity.

Professional treatment of

If your child has whooping cough, treatment will continue using antibiotics for two weeks. Treatment will be particularly effective and quick if the diagnosis was made at an early stage of the disease, before the appearance of a severe cough. But even if the disease was not established immediately, taking antibiotics will protect the people who are in contact with the sick from infection. Consult your doctor about vaccination and prescribing to other family members.

Some children with whooping cough should undergo compulsory treatment in a hospital hospital. Infants and young children are more likely to be hospitalized because they are at greater risk of developing complications such as pneumonia that occurs in 1 in 5 children under 1 year of age. Up to 75% of infants up to 6 months of age with whooping cough require compulsory treatment in the hospital. Pertussis in children up to 6 months of age may be life-threatening.

In a hospital, a child may require upper airway ventilation. If necessary, breathing will be fully controlled by the instruments. If the child shows signs of dehydration, you may have to resort to intravenous injections. The same procedure will be prescribed in case of difficulties with food.

Precautions should be taken for hospital staff, visitors and other patients.

Treatment at home

However, in most cases, whooping cough is treated at home under the supervision of the treating doctor. If the child is on treatment for whooping cough at home, it is important to follow the schedule of taking medications, exactly with the doctor's instructions. Taking medication for coughing does not make sense. Since even the strongest cough drugs are not able to cope with attacks of whooping cough.

In the intervals between attacks the child should be given the opportunity to relax. Prepare cool, humid air in the room with a steam generator. This will help ease the airways and soothe irritated lung mucosa.

In addition, make sure that there are no air irritants at home that can cause new coughing attacks. Such irritants are aerosols, air fresheners, tobacco smoke, sharp odors from food, etc.

Children with pertussis often experience vomiting. Try to feed the baby in small portions, but more often. This will allow the food to digest faster. Get your child to drink more fluids.

When to call a doctor

Call a doctor if you suspect that the baby has pertussis or has been in contact with other children with whooping cough. This should be done even if the child has all the vaccinations.

The child should be examined by a doctor if he has prolonged coughing with redness and vomiting.

If your child has pertussis and is on home treatment, be sure to seek medical help in case of difficulty breathing and at the first sign of dehydration.