Whooping cough is a respiratory tract infection that can progress rapidly and can be transmitted from person to person through the air. While it can occur in all ages and genders, it can cause significant health problems in infants and children. While it can be prevented by vaccination, common symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath. The disease, which can lead to pneumonia risk and encephalitis, can be treated with medication if diagnosed early.
Pertussis may initially present as an upper respiratory tract infection. It can progress with a severe cough, often accompanied by fever, cough and chills. There is a high risk of transmission to other people when the infected person coughs or sneezes. It is a disease that can cause serious consequences and life-threatening risks in infants and children depending on their age. While it is possible to protect infants and children from this disease with vaccination, it is also necessary to avoid any contact with people with the disease.
How is whooping cough transmitted?
The causative agent of this rapidly spreading infectious disease is a bacterium called bordetella pertussi. When an infected patient coughs and sneezes, the germs spread into the air. If a different person breathes the air in these environments, they can become ill.
In addition, actions such as close contact with an infected patient, talking or kissing can also cause the disease to be transmitted.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
The disease may first manifest itself with complaints and symptoms that occur in upper respiratory tract disorders. The person may experience cold-like complaints such as a runny nose, red eyes, sore throat and a slight increase in fever.
However, the complaints may increase in severity in the following periods. Symptoms of whooping cough that are frequently seen in cases can be listed as follows:
- Sudden coughing attacks and thick sputum
- Shortness of breath during coughing fits
- Difficulty breathing and wheezing
- Bruising of the nails and lips
- Respiratory arrest in infants
- Redness of the face
- Bleeding under the skin
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
- Stomach problems and diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
The disease can have mild symptoms in young people and adults, especially those who have been vaccinated. It may take time for the disease to fully recover. As the disease progresses, the frequency and severity of symptoms decrease.
Whooping cough in infants
If infants get whooping cough , the severity of symptoms, seizures and complaints can be severe. For this reason, babies and children should be protected more and kept away from infected environments and contact with infected people should be avoided.
Since different symptoms and sudden changes in body functions in infants can cause serious complications, it is important that they are treated in a hospital setting with close monitoring.
Conditions that indicate an increased risk and danger in infants are as follows:
- Respiratory failure
- Loss of too much fluid as a result of body dysfunction
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Pneumonia
- Coughing fits
- Kidney problems
- Brain damage
When to see a doctor?
In young people and adults, the symptoms of the disease may progress mildly, but there is also the possibility that coughing attacks may continue for a long time. In addition, if different complaints persist for a long time, the person should see a doctor and receive treatment.
In case of vomiting, bruising of the lips, difficulty in breathing, interruptions during breathing and different sounds such as wheezing while breathing, the person should consult a doctor immediately.
How is whooping cough diagnosed?
Pertussis is diagnosed by specialist doctors and pediatricians. With some questions asked to the patient and a detailed description of the complaints experienced by the patient, the result of the test performed on the cultures taken from the throat is determined.
Tests performed with swabs taken from the throat help diagnose the disease. Early diagnosis of the disease will reduce the complaints and symptoms as well as reduce the risk of transmission.
How is whooping cough treated?
In cases where whooping cough treatment is diagnosed early, recovery can be achieved with antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. Symptoms and complaints experienced by the person decrease with the medication used.
With early diagnosis and treatment, the risk of transmission of the disease is also reduced. Complaints and symptoms can be under control in about 3 weeks. If the disease is not diagnosed early, antibiotic treatment does not lead to improvement.
Treatment varies depending on the age of the person and the condition of the disease. When symptoms appear 2 to 3 weeks before the diagnosis, only supportive treatment is given. The person is advised to rest, drink plenty of fluids and take antipyretics.
In addition, you should only use medicines and treatment methods recommended by your doctor. Cough medicines and other medicines should not be taken without a doctor's prescription and recommendation.
What to do to prevent whooping cough?
The best way to prevent the disease is to get vaccinated. Since the vaccine does not protect for life, avoiding contact with infected patients also reduces the chance of getting the disease.
In addition, antibiotics can be recommended to pregnant women, healthcare workers, infants, people with weak immune systems and people with respiratory problems such as asthma, known as risk groups, to use upon doctor's recommendation and to protect them from the disease.
Especially people with low immunity can have a stronger immune system by taking certain medicines and supplements and consuming certain foods on the advice of a doctor to strengthen the immune system.
Since this condition can lead to more serious consequences in infants, it should be ensured that they are not in the same environment with sick people. If the mother or father has the disease, they should avoid contact until recovery is complete.
Pertussis Vaccine
Pertussis vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease. It is possible to protect against this disease, which affects babies and children more and can cause serious health problems, by getting vaccinated. However, since this vaccination does not protect babies and children for a lifetime, precautions should be taken against the disease.
Doses and vaccines given to pregnant women, infants and children may differ according to the vaccination calendar in our country.
During pregnancy, vaccination is generally recommended at the end of the 20th week. This vaccination protects the baby for a few weeks after birth.
The quintuple mixed vaccine is given to babies at two, four and six months. In the 18th month, it is repeated (Pertussis, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis and Hib) vaccine.
The quadrivalent mixed vaccine administered to 1st grade children during their primary school years is administered in the same way, only without the (Hib) vaccine.