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Whooping cough in babies
The number of young children with whooping cough has dropped considerably with the generalization of the vaccine. However, learn to recognize the signs of whooping cough which is a very contagious disease …
Whooping cough, what is it?
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection due to the Bordet-Gengou bacillus or called “Bordetella pertussis”. This highly contagious disease affects children and babies, especially those who are not vaccinated.
The vaccination schedule reminds that pertussis vaccine is recommended from 2 months. It will be necessary to make a booster at 4 months then at 11 months.
Symptoms of whooping cough
After contact with the bacillus, incubation lasts about a week and then symptoms appear. Coughing fits characterize whooping cough. Whooping cough starts with a cough which becomes more and more frequent and which occurs in violent and repetitive fits.
Nasopharyngitis often precedes the onset of the first manifestations of pertussis.
Coughing fits:
- Repetitive
- Violent expiratory jerks
- Loud inspiratory
- Many, 20 every day, are exhausting
- Between two coughing fits, the child inhales deeply and loudly
- Pertussis in infants can develop severe respiratory complications
- The period of the fifths lasts about 2 to 4 weeks
Treatment of pertussis
To avoid dehydration (due to vomiting and moderate fever), give your child something to drink very regularly.
Whooping cough is particularly contagious, the affected child should avoid contact with other children for a month.
The primary vaccination is done at 2, 4 months then a booster at 11 months. Transmission is no longer from children to children, but from adolescent-adults to newborns.
For this reason, a late recall at 11-13 years is recommended as well as for young parents, people at risk and staff in contact with newborns.
For infants, it is recommended to vaccinate them from the age of two months.