Protect your baby against whooping cough
Some tips to prevent your baby from having whooping cough, one of the most contagious diseases that affects especially those under 6 years of age.
The whooping cough is an infectious disease of the most contagious upper respiratory tract, which affects mainly infants less than 6 months , although it can also affect children, adolescents and adults. It can be very serious, especially if the baby has not yet received all the vaccines that correspond to him, that is why it is so important to prevent it and stop it when the infection has occurred.
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WHAT CAUSES WHOOPING COUGH?
Whooping cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis , and is transmitted through the respiratory tract (coughing, sneezing, nasal secretions, saliva …) of infected people. This disease has been clinically diagnosed since 1578, although it was not until 1907 when the causative bacterium was isolated and discovered.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF WHOOPING COUGH?
It is characterized by tracheo-bronchial inflammation . The initial symptoms are similar to those of the common cold:
– Nasal congestion
– Moqueo
– sneezing
– Violent coughing spells, ending with a shrill noise
– Feeling of suffocation
– Tiredness after a coughing fit
– vomiting
– Crying eyes
WHOOPING COUGH CAN BE VERY SERIOUS IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD ALL YOUR SHOTS YET
In babies, whooping cough is more serious , since more than 50% of children under 1 year of age need to be hospitalized.
Many babies who suffer from it are infected by their older siblings, their parents or people who care for them, since they often do not even know that they have this disease, camouflaging themselves under the guise of a cold .
The incubation period is usually between 5 and 10 days, although it can go up to 21 days. The carrier of the bacteria can spread it to others from the onset of symptoms up to three weeks after they start coughing. By taking a course of antibiotics, the contagion is reduced after 5 days of taking them.
In the initial stage it looks like a common cold , with sneezing, red eyes and some fever. Then, in the second stage, in approximately 2 weeks, the dry, sharp cough with the typical shrill noise appears. Sometimes vomiting occurs after the coughing attack, and nasal discharge, with episodes that can last from 1 to 2 months. The last stage is that of convalescence , where the coughs gradually disappear and this last phase can last between 1 to 3 months.
WHAT COMPLICATIONS CAN OCCUR?
Although in Spain and other developed countries, whooping cough is covered thanks to vaccination in 95% of children, cases can be declared, due to the fact that more is currently traveled, bringing the bacteria from less developed countries, among other factors.
There is a small loss of immunity from 6-10 years after the last dose of the vaccine, so some adults are not adequately protected against the bacteria, keeping it active in their social environment.
The complications that can occur in babies are usually:
– Seizures, in 1 in 50 cases
– Pneumonia, in 1 out of 10 cases
– Encephalopathy, in 1 out of every 250 cases
– Crisis of respiratory apnea, in 1 of every 50 cases
In infants and young children, mortality is 1% in infants less than one month old.
The most common sequelae are bronchiectasis (deformation of the bronchi, which predispose to repeated infections) and brain damage, occurring in 1 out of 100 cases.
IS THERE A VACCINE FOR WHOOPING COUGH?
Indeed, in 1923 it was developed in Great Britain, and all developed countries include it in their childhood vaccination programs.
The best prevention of whooping cough is through vaccination , and also if someone has a cold in the baby’s environment, it is important to keep the baby away, to avoid a possible contagion.
VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS
IN MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, WHOOPING COUGH IS 95% COVERED THANKS TO VACCINATION
For older children and preteens: Protection against pertussis diminishes over time, and a booster dose is common between the ages of 11 and 12.
For pregnant women: if the pregnant woman did not receive the DTPA vaccine on her day, she will need a dose in the third trimester of pregnancy , or if not immediately after delivery .
For adults: if they were not vaccinated as children, they should receive a dose, especially if they are going to have children or be in contact with babies.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.