Whooping cough

Whooping cough is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by paroxysmal spasmodic cough, which can last from several weeks to several months. Whooping cough is especially dangerous for children under 1 year of age.

Whooping cough symptoms:

1. The incubation period lasts from 1 to 2 weeks.

2. The initial symptoms resemble a common cold - a slight cough, runny nose, low fever.

3. After 1-2 weeks, a characteristic paroxysmal cough appears - several convulsive breaths with choking, then a sharp wheezing breath (reprise). The attacks are repeated several times a day.

4. During an attack, the child's face turns red or blue, and vomiting is possible.

5. Paroxysmal cough lasts from 2 to 6 weeks.

Complications of whooping cough:

1. Pneumonia

2. Otitis

3. Encephalopathy

4. Convulsions, respiratory arrest in infants

Treatment for whooping cough includes antibiotics, expectorants and bronchodilators. It is important to ensure sufficient air humidification, peace, and access to fresh air.

Prevention of whooping cough - vaccination of children. The vaccine is included in the national calendar of preventive vaccinations. Revaccination is carried out at 6-7 years. Isolate the sick child for 5 days from the start of antibiotic therapy.

Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is accompanied by bouts of coughing that can last for weeks or months and can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Whooping cough can be dangerous not only for the patient himself, but also for the people around him. It is transmitted by airborne droplets and spreads quickly through contact with a sick person or through objects that he touched.

Symptoms of whooping cough may include a mild sore throat, runny nose, and persistent coughing. But after a few days the cough begins to intensify and becomes paroxysmal. Coughing attacks are accompanied by a deep sigh, tension in the muscles of the back and chest, as well as redness of the face. In some cases, coughing may produce sputum containing