General Administration of Public Health castilla la mancha Confirmed outbreak pertussis There are 137 infected people in Guadalajara, most of whom are school-age children. That’s not the only focus.
ministry of health Madrid’s neighborhoods Another outbreak is guaranteed, this time in households, fort henares. Cases affecting children have been restricted, and the immediate family circle and even school settings have been given precautionary notifications. Initially, this was not related to the infection in Guadalajara.
Whooping cough is a serious illness It can affect people of any age and can have fatal complications: from permanent disability in infants to death.
It’s caused by bacteria Bordetella pertussis And it’s highly contagious.
Whooping Cough: What is it?
As from Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI), whooping cough, also known as whooping cough, causes a severe and very annoying cough that can cause make breathing difficult.
The first symptoms of this illness are very similar to those of a common cold and usually appear a week after exposure to the bacteria that cause the infection.As with respiratory diseases, it is spread through the respiratory tract Small droplets expelled when coughing or sneezing Or just talk or sing.
When a cough is accompanied by vomiting, you should always consider the possibility of whooping cough.
Complications develop after 10-12 days.
- “In babies and young children, a cough sometimes ends with a rattling sound, which is the sound a person makes when they try to take in air (a hoarse or whistling breath). This rattling sound occurs in babies under 6 months of age as well as in older children and rare in adults,” experts stress.
“A coughing attack may result in vomiting or a brief cough loss of consciousness. The possibility of whooping cough should always be considered when coughing is accompanied by vomiting. Choking and prolonged pauses in breathing are common in infants.
Whooping cough may cause other symptoms, such as:
- Rhinorrhea (runny nose)
- Fever dozens of degrees
- diarrhea
How is whooping cough diagnosed?
Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms, and although it can be confused with the flu or common cold, it has its own characteristics. To confirm that this is a case of whooping cough, Nasal secretion mucus sample and analyze it in the laboratory. While this can provide an accurate diagnosis, the examination takes time. “Most of the time, treatment is started before the results are available.”
this antibioticIf given promptly, the symptoms of this disease can be reduced. However, it is very rare to take this drug during the first few days of whooping cough because laboratory confirmation usually takes several days. However, these medications can help avoid other related illnesses.
Cough syrups, expectors and cough medicines ‘usually don’t work’
“Infants under 18 months need constant monitoring, as breathing may temporarily stop during a coughing attack. Infants with severe illness should be hospitalized. “You can use an oxygen tent with a lot of humidity,” emphasizes the physician.
Although, as its name suggests, the most typical symptom of whooping cough is a cough, cough syrupexpectorants and cough suppressants “often don’t work” and they should not be used because they are not really helpful.
It’s common to prescribe sedatives to children to promote sleep because it’s difficult to fall asleep when they’re coughing.
Whooping cough: Symptoms can last up to 10 weeks
Symptoms of this bacterial infection last on average about six weeks. However, if not “caught” it can be extended by up to 10 weeks. on time.
Although for older children it has Good prognosisThose most affected are likely to be infants under 6 months of age, who require more thorough medical control due to the risk of death. Recovery was particularly slow in all patients.
Complications may include:
- pneumonia
- epileptic seizure
- nosebleed
- ear infection
- Lack of oxygen causes brain damage
- Cerebral hemorrhage (brain hemorrhage)
- intellectual disability
- Stopped breathing or slow breathing (apnea)
Vaccine: the only tool against whooping cough
In Spain, whooping cough can be prevented through vaccination. Existing vaccines are used in combination with other vaccines to protect against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus at the same time. In addition, there are vaccines against four, five and six diseases. Health authorities recommend that pregnant women get vaccinated.
It is recommended that pregnant women receive the vaccine between the 27th and 36th weeks of pregnancy (preferably between the 28th and 32nd weeks). Vaccination should be given with every new pregnancy, regardless of when the last dose of tetanus vaccine was given and whether it was given in a previous pregnancy.
In infants, the first dose of vaccine is given in combination with diphtheria and tetanus at two, four and eleven months respectively. Later, they were six and fourteen years old respectively. There is another recommended dose for people over 65 years old.