Whooping cough

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What is it about ?

Whooping cough is a very contagious infection of the lower respiratory tract. It is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The infection is spread via droplets of saliva in the air, produced in coughing and sneezing.

Where and how often?

The frequency of pertussis varies and depends on the degree of protection of the population by vaccination. the pertussis vaccine is part of the basic immunization program, which starts at 2 months of age for babies. Therefore, pertussis occurs mainly in babies under 3 months of age, as well as in older children who are not vaccinated or who have not had all the doses of the vaccine.

To protect young infants, women who are 24 to 32 weeks pregnant are vaccinated. It is also recommended that the following people be vaccinated (“ cocoon vaccination “):

  • family members of an infant;
  • other people who will be in frequent contact with an infant;
  • all people who work with young children.

How to recognize it?

  • The pertussis in children evolves in different phases:
    • It starts with a common cold classic, a runny nose, sneezing, a little fever and a slight cough.
    • Within 2 weeks, the cough becomes more marked and leads to coughing fits, characterized by wheezing and sputum accompanied by thick mucus.
    • The fifths are often more pronounced during the night, which can exhaust the child.
    • Eat, drink and even to breathe are complicated by the cough, leading to loss of appetite and often weight loss in children.
    • Fifths can do To vomit the child or he may turn blue from lack of oxygen.
    • After 2 to 4 weeks, the characteristic coughing fits will give way to a cough mild which may persist for several weeks.
    • Often, the airways remain hypersensitive for a long time. Coughing fits can then be triggered by stress, cigarette smoke, or changes in temperature (for example, eating ice cream). These symptoms may be reminiscent of asthma.
  • The adults and older children who are infected with pertussis usually have few specific symptoms. Often they only complain about cough, which may be moderate to severe and persist for some time (more than 3 weeks).
  • At the premature babies and newborns, the cough is often completely absent. The following symptoms replace it:

This situation is particularly dangerous because it can lead to brain damage or even death.

How is the diagnosis made?

The doctor will suspect whooping cough based on the characteristic symptoms of the disease and the possible presence of small outbreaks.

In people with persistent coughing fits, the doctor takes some mucus from the nose and possibly has a blood test done. Unfortunately, these tests are not very sensitive, and can return to normal even when the patient is well infected with the pertussis bacteria.

What can you do ?

Hygiene in case of coughing and sneezing

Whooping cough is spread by expectorated droplets. Good hygiene in case of coughing and sneezing helps to counter this spread:

  • Preferably use disposable tissues.
  • A mouth mask can be helpful.
  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crease of your elbow
  • Wash your hands regularly after having coughed or sneezed.
The vaccination

Vaccination is extremely important to prevent whooping cough.

  • As the protection decreases over time, it is necessary to make booster vaccines. Even if you are vaccinated, you can still get whooping cough. But the symptoms of the disease are milder and are most often limited to a persistent cough.
  • Vaccination against pertussis is part of the basic immunization program for infants.
  • In addition, the authorities make available free vaccines for pregnant women and for all those who have close contact with an infant.
  • the tetanus vaccine booster every 10 years contains pertussis vaccine.

What can your doctor do?

Processing
  • At the children and adults vaccinated, whooping cough is usually not serious
  • The infants who have whooping cough, especially if they are not vaccinated, are on the other hand immediately hospitalized for appropriate monitoring and treatment.
  • The main goal of antibiotic treatment is to reduce the transmission of the infection to other people. The earlier you start it, the more effective it is.
  • Treatment makes little sense to people who have coughing fits for over a month. In this case, it is better to just wait until the disease resolves spontaneously.

The doctor is obliged to report the disease to the health authorities.

Prevention

Some family members of a sick person will be treated as a precaution:

  • infants who are not fully immunized and those around them;
  • people who have serious heart or lung problems, or who have an immunity deficit, and those around them;
  • women who are at least 24 weeks pregnant, and those around them.

Want to know more?

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