Whooping cough. Dangerous to babies, adults – especially if you miss immunisation

The disease is named for the characteristic sound of a whoop produced when affected individuals attempt to inhale; the whoop originates from the inflammation and swelling of the airways. Once the airways swell up, they become narrower than usual.

As a result, the breathing becomes difficult, which causes the ‘whoop’ sound as you gasp for-breath after a bout of coughing. The coughing is as a result of the bacteria coming into contact with the lining of these airways. Once the bacteria multiply, they cause a build-up of thick mucus which causes the intense bouts of coughing as your body tries to expel it.

Whooping cough is caused by bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria affect the lining of the airway mainly the windpipe (trachea) and the two airways that branch off from it to the lungs (bronchi).

Developments against whooping cough
The number of deaths resulting from whooping cough has drastically reduced over the years. This is highly attributed to the extensive measures taken by the government and bodies such as the World Health Organization in eradicating the disease.According to a study done in Kilifi by the Bio Med Central Ltd in conjunction with the Kilifi District Public Health Services, the immunization coverage for the three OPT doses stands at 91 per cent.

How is it contracted?
Whooping cough can be contracted by persons of all ages but it can be very serious in babies. It is most infectious during the early stages of the condition. The germs that cause it live in the nose, mouth and throat, and are sprayed into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks. When this happens, they propel hundreds of infected droplets into the air. If the droplets are breathed in by someone else, the bacteria will infect their airways. Touching a tissue or sharing a cup used by someone with pertussis can also spread the disease.

What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of whooping cough usually take seven to 10 days to appear after infection. This delay is known as the incubation period. Whooping cough tends to develop in stages, with mild symptoms occurring first.

Early symptoms

  • The early symptoms of whooping cough are often similar to those of a common cold and may include: running or blocked nose, sneezing, watery eyes, dry and irritating cough, sore throat, slightly raised temperature and a general feeling of malaise. These early symptoms can last for one to two weeks before becoming more severe.

Stage two

  • If the early symptoms are not treated, the condition becomes quite challenging. Paroxysm describes the intense bouts of coughing by a person with whooping cough. This describes the second stage of the disease. The patient experiences the following at this stage:
  • Intense bouts of coughing, which bring up thick phlegm or mucus
  • A ‘whoop’ sound with each sharp intake of breath after coughing. It is important to note that babies younger than three months may not make the “whoop”sound but show other symptoms such as gasping and gagging where the baby appears to be choking.
  • Vomiting after coughing, especially in infants and young children.
  • Each bout of coughing usually lasts between one and two minutes, but several bouts may occur in quick succession and last several minutes. This stage usually lasts at least two weeks though the cough may persist even after the bacteria have been cleared from the body.

Recovery stage
The symptoms of the disease gradually start to disappear, with fewer and less extreme bouts of coughing occurring. The coughing may continue even after recovery but will reduce with time.

Preventive measures
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. The number one preventive measure is immunization. Doctors agree that babies are most severely affected by whooping cough, and they are most at risk of developing complications. It is therefore important that parents ensure their children are immunised in time.

Immunization is administered through a vaccine commonly known as OPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus). The vaccine is given through injections in three intervals. The Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization (KEPI) under the Ministry of Public Health provides a schedule for children’s immunization. It recommends that babies be vaccinated when they are six, 10 and 14 weeks. Once the vaccines are administered, the baby’s antibodies react by forming immunity against the bacteria or virus contained in the vaccine.

If infected
Seek medical help immediately you notice the whooping cough symptoms. The doctor will prescribe a dose of antibiotics if the disease has not progressed, otherwise hospitalisation will be required, and the baby may be put in isolation to prevent spread of the disease and you will be advised to give him plenty of fluids and rest alongside the medication.

END: BL 38/24-25

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