Whooping cough is a bacterial infection. It mostly affects young children who have not been immunized. It is more prevalent in children younger than six months. There have also been cases in children between 11 and 18 years who have immune-compromised bodies. Whooping cough causes severe coughing spells that end with a “whoop” sound ,hence, the name. The spells can be mild, although they can be so severe that babies stop breathing in some cases. Whooping cough is also very contagious, so knowing whether a child has it ensures they get medical attention immediately. It will help to prevent spread amongst other children as well. This article will look at different aspects of whooping cough. This includes the causes, symptoms and treatment of whooping cough.
Causes of Whooping Cough
A specific type of bacteria causes whooping cough and it is found in cough droplets of an infected person. When a person with whooping cough sneezes, coughs, or laughs, the droplets are released into the air. Anyone breathing in this air will get the bacteria into their system. The bacterial attaches itself onto the lining of the lungs. It starts multiplying as it causes swelling and inflammation throughout the lungs.
The disease has an incubation period of around 5 to 10 days. Through this period, it is possible for the person to spread the disease. Even though vaccination gives the child a better chance at fighting whooping cough, it does not give them full immunity from the disease.
Symptoms of Whooping Cough
Even though the incubation period takes 5 to 10 days, symptoms might not appear until 3 to 6 weeks. Many times it has common cold-like symptoms, which is why most people do not take it seriously. Knowing what one is dealing with makes them better equipped to handle the disease. Here are the common symptoms of whooping cough:
- Cough with the whoop sound
- Runny nose
- Fever
These symptoms are usually mild and occur when the disease has not spread further. In severe cases, however, there are other symptoms one should look out for. They can be alarming and make most parents panic:
- Breathing difficulties.
- Apnea in smaller children
- Blue or purple skin, especially around the mouth
- Dehydration
- High fevers
These symptoms mostly occur in young children since their immunity is unable to fight well. Adults, on the other hand, experience milder forms of these symptoms. Most adults can go on living their lives without worrying about contracting whooping cough. There is the assumption it is a nasty cough because there is no whoop sound.
Treating Whooping Cough
The treatment plan will be based on the age of the patient and the severity of the condition. The first step will be to carry out a test to determine if it is whooping cough. The doctor will take mucus samples from the throat and nose and take them for testing. There are situations where a blood test might also be required to get more accurate results. Once the results are confirmed, treatment can start.
Infants and young children are often hospitalized for their treatment. The reason for this is, they get dehydrated and will need an IV for fluids. The doctors will administer antibiotics and monitor their progress over time. They come in handy, especially in the early stages. They eliminate the bacteria causing the disease. In later stages, they are used to prevent cross-infection.
It is not recommended to use cough medicine when dealing with whooping cough, especially in infants. They do not have any impact on the cough and often end up causing more harm to the children.
Adults also need to see the doctor and get their antibiotics. They can take their medication without needing to be hospitalized. In severe cases, however, an adult needs to be admitted to be monitored as well.
Whooping cough symptoms last up to six weeks, but they can be under control with the right treatment. Children and adults recover from whooping really fast, but the issue is with infants. Infants who have not been innoculated against whooping cough are at a high risk of dying from it. It is for this reason that parents need to be keen with their infants. Whenever one notices whooping symptoms, they should see a doctor right away.