The respiratory disease pertussis, also called whooping cough, is characterized by a severe cough followed by a high-pitched breath intake that sounds like a “whoop.” Whooping cough may occur in long spells and is a highly contagious infection that is spread through respiratory secretions.
Pertussis is particularly serious in children with a risk of severe complications. As of December 2022, there has been a substantial increase in Pertussis cases among South African children below the age of five. The infection is typically milder for teens and adults and impact young children more significantly.
Usually, the first whooping cough symptoms appear approximately seven to ten days after the child has contracted the infection. However, they can occasionally take longer. Initially, the symptoms are mild and resemble a common cold:
Whooping cough symptoms typically start to worsen after seven to fourteen days. The airways become clogged with thick mucus, which results in a persistent hacking cough. Young children may not cough at all. Instead, they can have trouble breathing.
Strong and prolonged coughing fits may also lead to:
Pertussis is brought on by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The disease develops once the bacteria enters your child’s respiratory system. They adhere to the cilia or hairlike projections lining their respiratory system. Then, they release chemicals to enlarge the airways and harm the cilia. As a result, mucus production may increase due to swelling, which ultimately results in excessive coughing.
Early diagnosis of whooping cough can be challenging because the symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, the flu, and bronchitis. Children often do not show many symptoms besides excessive coughing, making diagnosis diffcult. A doctor may be able to diagnose this disease by listening to the child’s cough, in some cases additional testing is needed to officially diagnose. .
Nose or throat culture: The bacteria that causes whooping cough can be detected with a quick swab of the region where your nose and throat converge.
Blood test: It is not always whooping cough, but a high white blood cell count indicates your child’s body is fighting off Pertussis.
Chest X-ray: Whooping cough develop into other respiratory infections caused by inflammation or fluid in the lungs. Inflammation and fluid can be identified in an X-ray.
Whooping cough in infants is harmful because it can prevent them from getting the oxygen they need, especially those under six months. This may lead to the following:
Children with whooping cough should be closely monitored since the coughing fits might lead them to cease breathing. Young newborns with severe conditions could also require hospital treatment.
Doctors frequently prescribe antibiotics to children with whooping cough. Early whooping cough treatment can lower the illness’s severity and help prevent the whooping cough bacterium from spreading.
Vaccination is the ideal approach to prevent whooping cough. However, not everyone has access to it. Therefore, other prevention methods include keeping your child away from anyone who may have an active whooping cough infection, staying hydrated and practicing good hygiene.