overview
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very contagious respiratory infection. In many people, it is characterized by a strong cough followed by a sharp breath that sounds like “whoop”.
Before the vaccine was developed, pertussis was considered a childhood disease. Now whooping cough mainly affects children who are too young to complete the entire immunization cycle, as well as adolescents and adults whose immunity has declined.
Deaths related to pertussis are rare but most common in infants. This is why it is so important that pregnant women – and others who have close contact with an infant – are vaccinated against pertussis. Whooping cough Treatment in Khammam
symptoms
Once you are infected with whooping cough it takes about seven to ten days for signs and symptoms to appear, although it can sometimes take longer.
They’re usually mild at first and look like a cold:
- Runny nose
- Stuffy nose
- Red and watery eyes
- fever
- to cough
- After a week or two, the signs and symptoms worsened. Thick mucus forms in your airways, causing an uncontrollable cough. Severe and persistent coughing fits can:
- Induce vomiting
- The result is a red or blue face
- Causes extreme tiredness
- Finish with a high pitched “whoop” sound on the next breath
The reasons
Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, tiny, germ-laden droplets are projected into the air and inhaled into the lungs of people nearby.
Risk factors
The pertussis vaccine you received as a kid eventually wears off, leaving most teenagers and adults at risk of infection during an outbreak – and outbreaks continue to occur regularly.
Infants under 12 months of age who are not vaccinated or have not received all of the recommended vaccines are at greatest risk of serious complications and death.
preventions
The best way to prevent whooping cough is with the pertussis vaccine, which doctors often give in conjunction with vaccines for two other serious diseases – diphtheria and tetanus. Doctors recommend starting vaccination in early childhood. Whooping cough Treatment in Khammam
The vaccine consists of a series of five injections that are usually given to children this age:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 15-18 months
- 4 to 6 years.