whooping cough
Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory infection An attack occurs from successive coughing impulses, followed by a noisy inhalation due to spasmodic narrowing of the laryngeal lumen (fissure).
Before the creation of the vaccine, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease Now, whooping cough develops in children who have not completed vaccination and in adults whose immunity is weakened
Death from whooping cough is rare and occurs most often in infants It is important to vaccinate a pregnant mother against whooping cough
Whooping cough is caused by bacteria When an infected person sneezes or coughs, they release tiny droplets that contain bacteria. When these droplets get into the lungs of people who are close to them, the disease develops
Signs and symptoms of whooping cough appear 7-10 days after infection At first they are mild and similar to flu symptoms:
- runny nose
- stuffy nose
- red, watery eyes
- temperature increase
- cough
in 1-2 weeks the symptoms worsen Thick mucus accumulates in the airways, which causes uncontrollable coughing An acute and prolonged cough can:
- Cause vomiting
- Cause a red or blue face
- Cause fatigue
In some people, the only sign of whooping cough is a prolonged cough
Babies may not cough at all They may have trouble breathing or temporarily stop breathing
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you have prolonged episodes of coughing:
- Have vomiting
- Have a cough or flush
- Have difficulty breathing or noticeable pauses in breathing
