Do you have a small baby at home? Or do you or someone in your family have a cough that doesn't go away for days? Sometimes we think that this kind of cough is just a common cold, but it can be something more serious. Today we are going to talk about "whooping cough" or Pertussis, which can be very dangerous, especially for young children.
What is Pertussis?
Simply put, whooping cough is a bacterial infection that affects our respiratory system , that is, the nose and throat. It is characterized by a continuous, severe cough. Sometimes this cough ends with a "whooping" sound when trying to breathe. That is why it is called "Whooping cough" in English.
This disease spreads very quickly from person to person. Fortunately, there are effective vaccines to prevent it. Examples include the DTaP vaccine for young babies and the Tdap vaccine for older children and adults.
Before the introduction of this vaccine, whooping cough was considered a disease that only affected young children. But in reality, anyone of any age can get it. However, the risk is much higher for babies under 2 months old, who cannot yet be vaccinated.
If adults get whooping cough, the symptoms are usually not as severe as those in young children. Also, adults can get it over time as the immunity from the childhood vaccine wears off.
What is the difference between whooping cough and croup?
Many people confuse these two diseases. Although both are respiratory infections, there are clear differences between them.
| Characteristic | Whooping cough (Pertussis) | Croup |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | Bacterial infection | Viral infection |
| The nature of the cough | "Whoop" sound after a long cough | A "barking" cough, like a dog barking (Barking cough) |
| Treatment | Can be cured with antibiotics | Antibiotics don't work. |
| Vaccine | There is a vaccine (DTaP/Tdap) | There is no vaccine. |
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
The symptoms of this come in two stages.
Early symptoms (just like a cold)
At first, its symptoms are very similar to those of a common cold.
- A little cough.
- Sneezing
- Sotu (fluid discharge from the sotu)
- Low body temperature (fever less than 102 F)
- Some people may also experience diarrhea.
After a week or ten
After about 7-10 days, that normal cough turns into "coughing spells." That is, coughing that lasts for about a minute at a time. This cough is a dry cough, meaning it doesn't produce mucus. During this time, you may feel short of breath and your face may turn red or purple.
After this severe cough, you hear that "whoop" sound when you try to breathe. But not everyone makes this sound. Especially small babies can feel suffocated, have difficulty breathing, and vomit without this "whoop" sound. This is very important.
Adults may only have a persistent dry cough. Symptoms may improve after about 4 weeks, but this cough may persist for months. For some people, it can last for 10 weeks or longer.
How does this happen?
Whooping cough is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis . When someone with whooping cough sneezes, laughs, or coughs near you, tiny droplets containing this bacteria become airborne. If you breathe in that air, you can get the disease.
When this bacteria enters our respiratory tract, it attaches to the fine, fibrous structures in the lungs, causing swelling and infection. That's what causes that terrible, dry cough.
What are the complications of this?
This is where we all need to pay the most attention.
Risk to small babies
Whooping cough is a very dangerous condition for babies under one year old. The severe coughing can deprive them of the oxygen they need. This can lead to serious complications such as:
- Brain damage or brain bleeding
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- Apnea (momentary cessation of breathing)
If you have even the slightest suspicion that your little one has whooping cough, see a doctor immediately. If a baby under one year old has this disease, someone should be nearby at all times, because the coughing can cause suffocation. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
For young people and adults
Complications can occur in both young and old people. In addition to pneumonia, severe coughing can lead to:
- Abdominal hernias
- Blood vessel rupture
- Rib fracture
- Insomnia
How to diagnose the disease?
The early symptoms are similar to those of a cold or the flu, so it can be difficult to diagnose the disease at first. Your doctor may think it's whooping cough just from the sound of your cough. But to be sure, they'll do the following tests:
- Nose or throat culture: A small swab is taken from the nose and throat to check for the presence of the bacteria.
- Blood test: If the number of white blood cells in the blood is increased, it means that the body is fighting an infection.
- Chest X-ray: This helps to see if there is swelling or fluid in the lungs, which can be a sign of pneumonia.
Treatment and things you can do at home
If the disease is detected early, antibiotics prescribed by your doctor can reduce the cough and other symptoms. They can also prevent the disease from spreading to others. However, because many people are diagnosed too late, antibiotics can be ineffective.
Most importantly: Never give cough syrups or cough suppressants from the pharmacy for whooping cough. They will not help.
A severe cough can make it difficult to drink water and can lead to dehydration. If you have symptoms such as dry lips and decreased urination, call your doctor immediately.
Things you can do at home
- Get plenty of rest: This gives the body the strength to fight the illness.
- Eat small meals whenever possible: Instead of eating a large meal at once, eat several small meals. This will help prevent vomiting due to coughing.
- Clean air: Staying in a clean environment, free from dust and smoke, can help reduce coughing.
- Drink plenty of fluids: Drink things like water and fruit juice regularly.
How can you protect yourself from whooping cough?
This is the most important part. Prevention is the best cure.
The main thing is vaccination .
- For young infants: Starting at 2 months, doses of the DTaP vaccine should be given according to the prescribed schedule.
- For young children and adults: Because immunity from childhood vaccines wanes over time, a booster shot called Tdap should be given at least every 10 years.
- For pregnant mothers: This is very important. It is recommended that you get the Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. The immunity you get from the mother passes to your baby, so your baby will be protected from whooping cough at birth.
If someone in the household has whooping cough, advise them to cover their mouth and nose with their elbow when coughing or sneezing, wash their hands frequently, and wear a mask when around others.
Take-Home Message
- Pertussis is not a cough caused by a common cold. It is a dangerous bacterial infection.
- This can be very dangerous, especially for young children under one year old who are not fully vaccinated.
- The best way to protect yourself from this is to get the DTaP and Tdap vaccines on time. Getting the vaccine for pregnant women also protects the unborn baby.
- If you have symptoms such as a persistent, severe cough, a "whooping" sound, or vomiting with coughing, don't waste time and see your doctor immediately.
- Avoid giving cough syrups purchased from pharmacies without medical advice.
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