Pertussis pertussis: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Parents are concerned about the question: what is whooping cough in children? This is an infectious disease that occurs mainly in children, characterized by the development of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The cough characteristic of the disease is similar to the crowing of a rooster, so the pathology has acquired such a name ("coc" means "rooster"). As far back as the Middle Ages, whooping cough was the main cause of premature death among babies. Especially severe illness occurs in children up to a year and in older people.

Transmission ways

The causative agent of the disease is the pathogen microorganism Bordetella pertussis. The main transmission routes for pertussis Komarovsky distinguishes the following:

• By air. When talking or coughing the carrier of the infection.

• Contact method. Due to the use of household items or toys of the patient.

Children from one to seven years of age are most susceptible to the development of whooping cough. When the virus enters the body, the mucous membranes of the trachea, larynx and bronchi are affected.

The main symptoms of the disease

Clinical symptoms of pertussis in children under one year of age:

• Increase in body temperature to 37-39 ° . It is a reaction to the ingestion of the pathogen into the child's body.

• The appearance of anxiety, tearfulness, moodiness. This is an emotional reaction of a child to feeling unwell.

• The occurrence of spasms and cramps. Appears in infants on the second day after infection.

• Redness of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and nose.

• Runny nose.

• Pertussis cough is the most characteristic symptom of pertussis in children up to a year, characterized by seizures that occur at any time of the day with the release of viscous secretions or vomiting. The intensity of seizures increases in the first ten days after infection, with an improvement in their number and severity decreases.

• Respiratory failure.

• The severity of blood vessels on the face and throat of the baby.

• Heart palpitations.

• Exhaustion.

• The appearance of a characteristic whistle when inhaling.

• A feeling of lack of air in a child. Before the attack begins, many parents have a feeling that the child is suffocating.

Stages

After you understand what is whooping cough in children, you should study its stages. The incubation period for the development of pertussis infection is from three to twenty days, while the patient is especially dangerous during the first and last days after infection.

Doctors distinguish three stages of pertussis: catarrhal, convulsive and restorative.

Catarrhal period

It is characterized by a gradual manifestation of symptoms of pertussis in the baby. At this stage of development, the ailment often resembles the development of an acute respiratory disease. Lasts from one to two weeks. There may be a slight increase in body temperature in the baby.

Convulsive

This stage is characterized by the appearance of such symptoms of pertussis in the baby, as spasms of an involuntary nature. As a rule, a cough appears with a characteristic whistle without sputum production. The duration of this period of the course of the disease is from one to six weeks.

Healing period

It is characterized by a decrease in the manifestation of symptoms of pertussis in infants and an improvement in the general somatic state.

Due to a viral infection in a baby, the following complications may occur:

• Pneumonia.

• Encephalopathy

• Pleurisy.

• Bronchitis.

• Pneumothorax.

• Rupture of tympanic membranes or small vessels.

• Purulent otitis media.

The above listed complications may occur due to severe coughing, as well as due to the development of secondary infections.

Diagnostics

Differential diagnosis of symptoms of pertussis in infants is carried out mainly by an infectious disease specialist, as well as a pediatrician. The initial examination consists in collecting the patient's medical history and the nature of the patient's complaints. Next, a specialist examines the pharynx of a child and measures body temperature. A more thorough study is to conduct such laboratory tests:

• Blood count analysis.

• Conducting bacteriological examination of smears from the nasopharynx.

• Performing an immune analysis.

After analyzing all the data obtained, an individual system of therapeutic effect is selected to prevent the development of dangerous complications.

What to do - baby coughs?

The treatment of the disease is to hospitalize the patient in order to prevent the spread of infection. To eliminate the symptoms of the disease, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:

• Antibacterial agents. Prescribed to suppress pathogenic viruses, prevent their reproduction and the emergence of secondary complications.

• Antipyretic. They are taken to normalize the body temperature of the child. Drugs can be used in the form of: suppositories, suspensions, tablets. Dosage and number of doses must be prescribed in accordance with the age of the child, the attending physician.

• Antihistamines Recommended if a child has allergic reactions.

• Sedatives. Assigned to infants to reduce nervous excitability and the intensity of muscle spasms.

It should also be noted that the selection of medicines is carried out by a doctor, taking into account the age of the child. Parents should ensure optimal room temperature and room humidification. It is also worth observing a diet enriched with vegetable and fruit purees and juices, which are necessary to maintain the body's immune forces. Breast-fed infants should receive the same amount of milk as before the illness.

Prevention

Prevention of pertussis according to Komarovsky consists in observing the following recommendations:

• Conducting routine vaccination.

• The use of mineral and vitamin supplements appropriate to the age of the baby.

• Daily outdoor activities.

• Observe the rules of personal hygiene.

• Avoid hypothermia of the body and crowded places, especially in the autumn-winter period.

However, it should be noted that the main way to prevent pertussis is to conduct routine vaccination.

Vaccination

So, the most effective method of preventing this disease is to conduct routine vaccination of DTP. The vaccine contains filtered concentrated toxins of the pathogen. In the first seconds after the injection, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the child, since the most severe concomitant reactions of the body to the introduced antibodies can be observed. The first vaccine for pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria is given to the baby at the age of three months and then two more with a range every two months.

Normal body reaction after vaccine administration:

• A slight increase in temperature to subfebrile.
• Anxiety during sleep.
• Lethargy.
• Redness of tissues at the injection site.
• Seal
• Tearfulness and moodiness may occur.

This reaction can occur within three days.

Possible complications after vaccination:

• cramps
• loss of consciousness;
• fever;
• the presence of allergic reactions;
• cough;
• encephalitis;
• the appearance of signs of intoxication;
• diarrhea;
• the occurrence of neurotic disorders.

In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Health, vaccination of children should be carried out in clinics with a specially equipped treatment room. Before vaccination, the child is laid on its side and the site where the puncture will be disinfected is disinfected. Parents of the baby must necessarily fill out the consent form for the manipulation. In the treatment room, the nurse provides parents with all the certificates for the pertussis vaccine, after which the injection is performed.

Temporary contraindications for vaccination against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus:

• The presence of an increase in low-grade fever.
• Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx.
• Enlarged lymph nodes.
• Inflammation of the eyes.
• Diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

After improving the condition of the child and re-examination by a doctor, vaccination is carried out.