What You Need to Know About Whooping Cough
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Vaccination for whooping cough is slightly different than for other conditions as its main purpose is to protect very young babies who have not yet been vaccinated so less than two months old by effectively surrounding them with lots of vaccinated people. This is called herd immunity. It will also protect those young children that are vaccinated as well of course but the older the child is the less serious the disease is though it remains troublesome. Almost all deaths from whooping cough are in the first year of life. |
The other thing to remember is that the vaccinations as a baby for whooping cough do not last forever so there is a trickle of children aged about 8 to 12 years of age who get whooping cough even though they have been vaccinated as a baby where their vaccination effect has worn off and their symptoms at that age are troublesome and can last 3 months but it is not dangerous in an otherwise well child.
Whooping cough isn’t as common as it used to be, but the disease hasn’t been eradicated completely. If there is whooping cough in your area, there are a few basic facts you should know about chest infection treatment and preventing the spread of pertussis.
Whooping cough isn’t as common as it used to be, but the disease hasn’t been eradicated completely. If there is whooping cough in your area, there are a few basic facts you should know about chest infection treatment and preventing the spread of pertussis.
1. What Causes Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough or pertussis is a bacterial infection that can affect your lungs. Once the Bordetella pertussis bacteria have infected the lining of your lungs and airways, they can cause swelling and encourage extra mucus production. The cough is a reaction to this.
2. What Are the Symptoms of Whooping Cough?
The distinctive sounding cough is the most obvious sign of whooping cough. The cough itself is just like any dry cough, but it tends to come in long fits of coughing that can bring up phlegm. The whooping is usually heard at the end of these, when your child is gasping for breath. Pertussis can cause other symptoms too, which often include a fever, runny nose, sore throat and other cold-like symptoms. It is also common for younger children to throw up, usually at the end of a bout of coughing. Whooping cough can last for a long time. It is also sometimes known as the hundred day cough because it can last for months without chest infection treatment.
3. How Is Whooping Cough Treated?
If you think that your child has whooping cough, you should see your doctor. The symptoms alone are usually enough to diagnose whooping cough, but it may be necessary to take a sample of your child’s mucus or blood to check for the pertussis bacteria. If the diagnosis is confirmed, your child will be prescribed antibiotics for chest infection treatment.
4. Can You Prevent Whooping Cough?
A vaccination is available to prevent whooping cough, so it is far less common now than it used to be. However, there are still a small number of cases every year. It is important to ensure that your child gets all the pertussis vaccinations and to be particularly careful with young babies, who haven’t received all of their vaccinations yet. If someone does become infected, they can spread the bacteria in their coughs and sneezes, even before the distinctive whooping cough has appeared. Practicing basic hygiene and staying at home can prevent whooping cough spreading further.
Whooping cough or pertussis is a bacterial infection that can affect your lungs. Once the Bordetella pertussis bacteria have infected the lining of your lungs and airways, they can cause swelling and encourage extra mucus production. The cough is a reaction to this.
2. What Are the Symptoms of Whooping Cough?
The distinctive sounding cough is the most obvious sign of whooping cough. The cough itself is just like any dry cough, but it tends to come in long fits of coughing that can bring up phlegm. The whooping is usually heard at the end of these, when your child is gasping for breath. Pertussis can cause other symptoms too, which often include a fever, runny nose, sore throat and other cold-like symptoms. It is also common for younger children to throw up, usually at the end of a bout of coughing. Whooping cough can last for a long time. It is also sometimes known as the hundred day cough because it can last for months without chest infection treatment.
3. How Is Whooping Cough Treated?
If you think that your child has whooping cough, you should see your doctor. The symptoms alone are usually enough to diagnose whooping cough, but it may be necessary to take a sample of your child’s mucus or blood to check for the pertussis bacteria. If the diagnosis is confirmed, your child will be prescribed antibiotics for chest infection treatment.
4. Can You Prevent Whooping Cough?
A vaccination is available to prevent whooping cough, so it is far less common now than it used to be. However, there are still a small number of cases every year. It is important to ensure that your child gets all the pertussis vaccinations and to be particularly careful with young babies, who haven’t received all of their vaccinations yet. If someone does become infected, they can spread the bacteria in their coughs and sneezes, even before the distinctive whooping cough has appeared. Practicing basic hygiene and staying at home can prevent whooping cough spreading further.
