Symptoms and treatment of whooping cough in children. Recommendations for parents

A dangerous infection, whooping cough, is recorded many times more often in children than in adults. Moreover, in 50% of cases, this disease affects children under two years of age. Those who have recovered from the disease rarely get sick again. At regular intervals of 2-4 years, an epidemic of whooping cough is recorded in each country, so routine vaccination is urgently required in accordance with the current vaccination schedule.

How is whooping cough transmitted in children: causes of the disease

The cause of whooping cough infection in children is the Bordet-Gangu bacillus. The resistance of pertussis bacillus to environmental factors is very low. The pathogen quickly dies when dried, when exposed to direct sunlight, or when the temperature rises. The length of the Bordet-Zhangu stick reaches 2 microns. Forms an exotoxin.

The source of pertussis infection is a sick person. It is most contagious in the initial period of the disease.

Here you can see a photo of the causative agent of whooping cough in children - Baudet-Giangu bacillus:

Then the patient’s infectiousness gradually becomes less. The patient continues to excrete pertussis bacilli for about a month after the onset of the disease.

How is whooping cough transmitted in children and how great is the susceptibility to this infection? Whooping cough is transmitted by airborne droplets. Since the pathogen is very unstable in the external environment, infection can only occur through very close and prolonged contact with a sick person. Infection through things and third parties is extremely rare.

It should be said that susceptibility to whooping cough is quite high. Children aged 1 to 5 years are most susceptible to the disease. Even very young children - the first months of life - can get whooping cough. Children over 10 years of age very rarely get whooping cough. Cases of whooping cough in adults can be called isolated. A child who has had whooping cough develops a strong immunity that lasts for life.

How does whooping cough occur in children: the course of the disease

The pertussis bacillus enters the body of a healthy person by inhaling tiny droplets of mucus and saliva present in the air around the patient. Droplets with whooping cough sticks settle on the mucous membrane lining the respiratory tract - the larynx, bronchi, bronchioles and pulmonary alveoli. Here the pathogen begins to multiply intensively and release an exotoxin. The Bordet-Zhangu stick does not penetrate the blood and does not spread to various organs and tissues.

The exotoxin produced by the pathogen irritates the nerve receptors that are embedded in the thickness of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. This irritation causes frequent paroxysmal coughing; in the central nervous system, irritation constantly transmitted along the centripetal nerves leads to the development of a stagnant focus of excitation.

During the course of whooping cough, the exotoxin in children is absorbed into the blood and has a pathogenic effect on the body - mainly on the nervous system (many nerve centers become excited). There is a general vascular spasm, which leads to an increase in blood pressure in the child.

The course of whooping cough disease in children is accompanied by spasm of the small bronchi, as a result of which the glottis narrows, vomiting appears, and clonic and tonic convulsions may occur. Due to frequent and prolonged coughing attacks, due to impaired blood circulation in the lungs, pulmonary ventilation suffers, this leads to the development of such dangerous phenomena as hypoxemia and hypoxia - the oxygen content in the blood and tissues decreases. As a result, the flow of oxidative processes in tissues is disrupted, and acidosis develops. Whooping cough causes nutritional disorders and the development of hypovitaminosis; The child’s body resistance drops sharply. When the so-called secondary flora (staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococcus, etc.) joins the disease process, various complications of the disease develop.

How does whooping cough manifest in children and what symptoms are it accompanied by?

The duration of the incubation period for whooping cough is from 3 to 15 days. The disease occurs in 3 periods: catarrhal period, period of spasmodic cough (or spasmodic period), period of resolution.

It is important for parents to know what symptoms of whooping cough in children appear during each period.

The catarrhal period can last up to 2 weeks. In an infant, it may be shorter; in an older child, this period is sometimes prolonged. The main sign of whooping cough in a child during this period is an increase in body temperature to moderate values; High fever is rare. From the very beginning of the disease, the child develops a dry cough. As days pass, the cough intensifies and becomes the leading manifestation of the disease. Towards the end of the catarrhal period, the cough takes on a paroxysmal character. Coughing attacks occur more often at night, which is why the child’s sleep cannot help but suffer. The child’s well-being suffers little. Appetite is usually not impaired. There may be a slight runny nose.

How does whooping cough manifest itself in children during the period of spasmodic cough, and what symptoms is it accompanied by? The duration of this period can be from 2 to 8 weeks. The cough is getting worse and worse, and its attacks are becoming obsessive. Attacks occur either suddenly or after certain precursors; The latter may include anxiety, a feeling of soreness or burning in the throat, behind the sternum, or a feeling of pressure in the chest. Then, after a deep breath, a whole series of coughing impulses occurs, they follow each other, without giving the child a break. Finally the coughing stops and a long, deep breath follows. Due to the narrowing of the glottis, inhalation is accompanied by a characteristic whistling sound. Next, a series of coughing impulses takes place again.

One of the symptoms of whooping cough in children during the spasmodic period– redness of the face during a coughing attack, sometimes the face even takes on a cyanotic (blue) color. The eyes become bloodshot and watery from tension; the neck veins swell. The heart rate increases, and arterial and venous pressure increases. A young child may have involuntary urination and bowel movements during such an attack. Sometimes seizures develop. The more severe the disease, the longer the coughing attacks. The attack ends with coughing up a small amount of clear, viscous sputum and often with vomiting. Coughing attacks can be provoked by any external irritants (coughing becomes a conditioned reflex act) - loud noise, the appearance of a doctor or nurse, examination of the throat, type of medical instruments, etc. The general condition of a sick child, as a rule, does not suffer. Another symptom of whooping cough in children during the spasmodic period is lethargy. The child may be irritable; Sometimes convulsive twitching of the facial muscles is observed. The body temperature during the spasmodic period is normal in most children. If the body temperature suddenly rises, in such cases they think about the development of some kind of complication. The child eats well, plays with interest between coughing attacks, and leads a normal lifestyle. A doctor examining the oral cavity of a sick child usually finds a small ulcer on the frenulum of the tongue. This ulcer is formed during coughing attacks - during attacks, the tongue protrudes from the mouth and bends upward, while the frenulum of the tongue is injured on the lower incisors. The sore may be covered with a white coating. Subsequently, when the coughing attacks stop, the ulcer heals quite quickly.

The frequency of coughing attacks gradually decreases, the cough loses strength - this is how the third period of the disease begins, the period of resolution. The cough ceases to be spasmodic and convulsive. The sputum that is released when coughing becomes mucopurulent. All other manifestations of the disease disappear. The duration of the final period of whooping cough is up to 4 weeks.

Here you can see photos of whooping cough symptoms in children during each period of the disease:

Forms of the disease and complications after whooping cough in children

Whooping cough can occur in a child in mild, moderate and severe forms.

A mild form of the disease is characterized by a low frequency of coughing attacks - from 5 to 15 during the day; the attacks are short-lived, the patient’s general condition does not suffer, vomiting is rare.

If a child has moderate whooping cough, the number of attacks can reach 24 per day; attacks are longer, often ending in vomiting; The general condition may suffer somewhat.

In severe whooping cough, the number of coughing attacks approaches 30 per day (and maybe more); the attacks are long and severe, almost always end with vomiting, the child’s appetite and sleep suffer, a prolonged febrile reaction is characteristic, and the weight of the sick child decreases.

In children suffering from whooping cough, complications most often develop from the respiratory system. These are laryngitis, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, pneumonia, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pleurisy, etc. Also, complications after whooping cough in a child can include encephalopathy, rectal prolapse, and umbilical hernia. Complications that arise as a result of the addition of a secondary infection to the disease process are especially severe, and in children in the first months of life can lead to death.

What to do with whooping cough in children: how to help your child

What to do with whooping cough in children to help sick children? Treatment is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. The vast majority of children with whooping cough are treated at home. The child is sent to the hospital if the illness is severe and if complications develop; Children of the first and second years of life also require hospitalization.

At high temperatures, as well as with the development of severe complications, the sick child must remain in bed.

If you don't know how to help your child with whooping cough, use the following recommendations.

The room in which the sick child is located must be ventilated as often as possible; The child is transferred to another room for ventilation.
If the child remains in a ventilated area, he should be warmly dressed or well covered with a blanket; During ventilation, the child should breathe exclusively through the nose.
When treating whooping cough in children at home, in the room in which the patient is located, you need to carry out wet cleaning 1-2 times a day; At the same time, use disinfectant solutions.
Organize split meals for the child (feed in small portions, but often); Diversify the baby’s diet with foods that are sources of vitamins for the body (vegetables, fruits, berries).
When treating whooping cough in children at home, the child should be fed only after coughing attacks; This reduces the likelihood of vomiting and food loss.
Give your child to drink more infusion of cinnamon rose hips; give blackcurrant juice to drink; Orange juice and other citrus juices are also very useful; the infusion of rose hips and all the juices mentioned above contain large quantities of ascorbic acid (vitamin C); this vitamin effectively suppresses bacterial flora and has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
When a small child begins to have a spasmodic coughing attack, the mother should take the baby in her arms or sit her on her lap; An older child should sit up in bed; as practice shows, in a sitting position it is easier for a child to endure a coughing attack; It is also important that when the child is sitting, the likelihood of vomiting is somewhat reduced; For a baby, the psychological moment is of great importance: when he feels bad, his mother is nearby, she holds him, she calms him down, and the child is not as scared as it could be.
At the end of the coughing attack, mucus should be removed from the child’s nasal and oral cavity; this can be done using a dry gauze swab; You can clear the nasal cavity of a small child of mucus using a rubber spray; you need to use the can as a suction; such a can of sufficient capacity can be purchased at any pharmacy; a container of minimal capacity is included in the standard “First Aid Kit for a Newborn”; After using the can, it should be washed thoroughly in soapy water.
To make spasmodic cough attacks less frequent, it is recommended to protect the child from exposure to any external irritants, which often provoke attacks; It is recommended to maintain silence and avoid any fuss around the sick child.
It is necessary to organize interesting leisure time for the child; the child should be busy playing, looking at pictures in books, drawing, etc.; Children's television programs are good at distracting a child from thoughts about illness and cough.
And most importantly: In the process of treating whooping cough, children should never be left alone for a long time.

Treatment of whooping cough in children at home with folk remedies

Before treating whooping cough in children with folk remedies, you should definitely consult your doctor.

In the process of treating whooping cough in children at home, it is recommended:

take a mixture of fresh butter and honey; preparation of the product: mix butter and honey in equal quantities and knead the resulting mass thoroughly; Take a child, regardless of age, 1 teaspoon of the mixture 3 times a day;
regularly use the following quite effective remedy: grind 4-5 cloves of garlic to a paste, pour in 200 ml of cow's milk, boil for 3-4 minutes, then quickly cool the product, strain through 1-2 layers of gauze; children 3-5 years old drink half a glass of this warm decoction 3 times a day; for older children - more often; The duration of the course of treatment is 7-10 days.
Another effective folk method for treating whooping cough in children is to systematically give the child syrup made from onions and honey to drink; preparation of the product: you need to chop the onion to a paste-like state, quickly squeeze the juice out of the pulp, mix it with an equal amount of honey; For a child, regardless of age, take half a teaspoon of the mixture 3 times a day; The duration of the course of treatment is several days.
You can give olive oil and honey to drink; preparation of the product: mix the oil with the same amount of honey, bring this mixture to a boil once, then cool quickly; For a child, regardless of age, take half a teaspoon of this mixture 2-3 times a day.
An effective folk remedy for whooping cough in children with a strong spastic cough is to use a warm infusion of rhizomes with marshmallow roots for oral administration; preparation of infusion: 1 teaspoon of dried rhizome, crushed into a fine powder, place in a thermos, pre-heated with hot water, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for several hours, shaking from time to time, strain through 1-2 layers of gauze, squeeze well raw materials that have absorbed water; for a child aged 3-5 years, take 1 tablespoon of infusion 3-4 times a day before meals; children 6-7 years old drink 2 tablespoons of the product 3-4 times a day before meals; Children over 7 years old can take 3 tablespoons of infusion 3-4 times a day before meals.

How to treat whooping cough in children with folk remedies at home

To treat whooping cough in children with folk remedies, you can use the following recipes:

if a child has difficulty releasing sputum when coughing, it is recommended to use a warm infusion of wild rosemary herb for oral administration; preparing the infusion: grind the dried herb into powder, pour 1 teaspoon of the raw material into 400 ml of cold boiled water and leave in a sealed container at room temperature for 7-8 hours, then strain the finished infusion through 1-2 layers of gauze, absorbing the raw material water, squeeze well; children aged 3-5 years drink half a glass of the product 3 times a day before meals; a child 6-7 years old take half a glass of infusion 4 times a day before meals; children over 7 years old can drink a full glass of the product 3 times a day before meals;
in case of severe cough, use a warm infusion of rhizomes with roots of elecampane for oral administration; preparing the infusion: grind the dried raw materials into powder (you can do this on a fine grater), pour 1 teaspoon of the raw materials into 200 ml of cooled boiled water and leave in a sealed container at room temperature for about 8 hours, shaking the product periodically, then strain after 1- 2 layers of gauze; for a child aged 3-5 years, take the infusion 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day for 20-30 minutes. before meals; children 6-7 years old drink 2 tablespoons 3-4 times a day for 20-30 minutes. before meals; children over 7 years old can take a quarter glass of infusion 3 times a day half an hour before meals;
as a very effective expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent, drink a decoction of coltsfoot leaves for your child; preparing the decoction: pour 2-3 tablespoons of dried, crushed herbs into a glass of water and cook at low boil for about 10 minutes, then cool quickly, strain through 2 layers of gauze, squeeze out the remaining raw materials that have absorbed water; for children under 10 years of age, take 1 teaspoon of decoction 5-6 times a day; Children over 10 years old drink 1 tablespoon of the product 5-6 times a day.
Another effective remedy for treating whooping cough in children is to take a warm infusion of Scots pine buds. Preparation of the infusion: thoroughly crush the dried pine buds with a pestle in a mortar, pour 1 tablespoon of the raw material into 200 ml of boiling water and leave in a sealed container at room temperature for about 45 minutes, strain through 1 layer of gauze, squeeze out the remaining raw material; for children aged 8-10 years, take 1 tablespoon 5-6 times a day; children over 10 years old drink a quarter glass of infusion 3-4 times a day;

Traditional methods of treating whooping cough in children: the best recipes

Here are some more of the best folk recipes for whooping cough in children that can be used at home:

take an infusion prepared from a collection of medicinal plants of the following composition: oregano herb - 1 part, marshmallow flowers - 1 part, creeping thyme herb - 1 part; preparation of the product: place 1 tablespoon of the dried, well-ground mixture in a thermos, preheated with hot water, pour 200 ml of boiling water and leave for at least 45 minutes, let the product cool, strain through 1-2 layers of gauze, squeeze out the remaining raw materials well; For children, regardless of age, take 1 tablespoon of infusion 4 times a day before meals;
when an ulcer appears on the frenulum of the tongue, rinse the child’s mouth with a decoction of the leaves of silver birch (or silver birch); preparation of the product: dried birch leaves should be thoroughly crushed with a pestle in a mortar, pour 1 tablespoon of the powder with a glass of water and cook at low boil for 10-15 minutes, then quickly cool the broth, strain through 1-2 layers of gauze, squeeze out the remaining raw materials; Use warm for rinsing the mouth and throat; rinse 5-6 times a day.
Also, when treating whooping cough in children with folk remedies, you can rinse the child’s mouth with a warm infusion of peppermint herb. Preparation of the product: pour 2 teaspoons of dried, powdered leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave, covered, at room temperature for about 15 minutes, strain through 1-2 layers of gauze; rinse the mouth 3-4 times a day; alternate with the use of other means;
rinse the child’s mouth and throat with a warm infusion of St. John’s wort flowers and leaves; preparation of the product: grind dried flowers and leaves into powder, pour 1 tablespoon of raw materials with a glass of boiling water and leave in a sealed container at room temperature for 15-20 minutes, strain through cheesecloth, squeeze out the remaining raw materials; rinse your mouth and throat 4-5 times a day, alternating with other rinses.

In preventing whooping cough, the main burden falls on active immunization; use pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine. A sick child is isolated for about a month from the date of illness to prevent the spread of infection.

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Despite the fact that in modern conditions there is an effective vaccination against whooping cough, this disease still affects on average every 80 out of 100,000 living population. This situation is associated with an increase in vaccination rejections. Very often they are unfounded. Whooping cough in children is severe. Especially in infants. A child in the first two years of life is vulnerable to the development of life-threatening complications. What is whooping cough, how does it occur, how is it diagnosed and treated?

The essence of the disease

The described pathology is considered a childhood infection. However, adults also suffer from it. But it is believed that childhood whooping cough is much more complicated, with a large number of complications and dangers.

The disease is transmitted from a sick person. It is a source of infection. In a child 2 years of age or earlier, an infectious disease occurs after communicating with sick older brothers or sisters, or with children from the same preschool institution.

Whooping cough manifests itself in a child as a paroxysmal cough. The causative agent of the disease, Bordetella, is tropic to the tissues of the respiratory tract. At first, the signs of whooping cough in a child are not much different from a banal acute respiratory disease. Then comes the typical whooping cough.

Whooping cough is dangerous due to the development of pneumonia due to the addition of a bacterial infection. Young children are at risk of developing a situation such as spontaneous pneumothorax. It requires emergency care.

Etiology and epidemiological features

It is known that susceptibility to the pathogen without vaccination is universal. In addition, the immunity formed after vaccination is unstable. This means there is a high probability that, under certain conditions, whooping cough will develop in a vaccinated child.

The causative agent of the disease is a gram-negative rod, unable to carry out movements. This allows us to conclude that the microbe has endotoxins. When the Bordetella wall is destroyed, this substance enters the bloodstream of an infected person and causes a lot of trouble. In addition to endotoxin, the causative agent of pertussis infection carries an exotoxin.

In addition to children, adult patients are also susceptible to infection. The route of infection is air. But in order for the infection to be transmitted from one person to another, an important condition must be met: close interaction between them. The incubation period of the disease lasts from 2 days to 2 weeks. During this period, infected secretions are transmitted by coughing.

It is known that the pathology is seasonal. As with other respiratory diseases, children are most vulnerable in the autumn-winter period. An important feature is the development of stable immunity. No cases of reinfection have been registered.

Clinical picture of pertussis infection

Whooping cough in a child, like in an adult patient, occurs with a clear frequency or stage. The change in phases of the disease is due to the pathogenetic features of the infectious process. There are several periods of whooping cough.

Among them is the catarrhal stage, which is followed by a spasmodic period. This is followed by the resolution phase of the disease.

Catarrhal period

This phase of the disease occurs immediately after the incubation of the pathogen in the human body is completed. Its total duration usually does not exceed 14 days. What causes the catarrhal stage of pertussis infection?

Bordetella enters the upper respiratory tract of a child or adult with an infection from a sick person. It is known that this bacterium takes root very well on the cylindrical epithelium of the trachea and bronchi. Typical inflammation occurs. At first it is catarrhal. That is, there is no pus, only hyperemia of the mucous membrane with the formation of a certain amount of mucus.

This is accompanied by the development of lacrimation and the discharge of clear fluid from the nose (catarrhal rhinitis occurs). Symptoms of whooping cough in children at this stage also include coughing. While it can hardly be called a typical whooping cough. It rather resembles a cough due to a common cold or acute respiratory viral disease.

Another name for the period is prodromal. The temperature during whooping cough at this point reaches low-grade levels. Other manifestations of intoxication syndrome may include fatigue, weakness, and headaches. In adults, a possible variant is whooping cough without fever at all.

Spasmodic period

Cough with whooping cough has special symptoms. Its first appearance is observed in the catarrhal phase of the disease. Then this symptom is caused by inflammation in the mucous membrane of the oropharynx and nasopharynx. Reflex influences are also not excluded.

Then the human immune system begins to react to the causative agent of the disease. Both nonspecific and specific protection factors operate. In this case, most of the microorganisms die. A certain concentration of endotoxins is released. Then they are joined by heat-labile exotoxins, which are especially toxic to the human body.

Substances that are formed when the whooping cough bacillus dies cause irritation (or irritation) of the nerve endings of the respiratory tract. In addition, they cause contraction of the smooth muscle structures of the bronchi and vascular walls.

Intoxication signs of whooping cough in a child are replaced by another phase. Here the so-called spasmodic cough comes to the fore. It is characterized by periodicity and cyclicity. Cough episodes appear at regular intervals in series. Spasmodic cough can occur both during the day and at night. Sometimes sleep is significantly disrupted and the child becomes exhausted.

The attacks themselves consist of a series of coughing impulses. Usually there are from 5 to 10. The time intervals between them are approximately the same.
Important! Cough with whooping cough occurs during a certain phase of breathing - exhalation.

After completing a series of shocks, the patient convulsively inhales air, causing the appearance of a typical whistling sound called reprise. This sound phenomenon is caused by the passage of air flow during inhalation through the glottis, which is significantly spasmodic.

Another name for the described clinical syndrome is nervous cough. It takes place, since this phenomenon is formed, among other things, due to reflex effects and impulses from the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, irritated by Bordetella exotoxins. After the attack is over, vomiting may occur. The child’s eyes are somewhat “bulging” at the time of a spasmodic cough attack. The face is red, hemorrhages may form on the conjunctiva of the eyes. The frenulum of the tongue is injured from frequent coughing and forms an ulcer that does not heal for a long time.

The spasmodic phase of pertussis infection lasts about a month. In this case, the first three weeks continue to have a tendency towards progression of symptoms, while the last week is characterized by a decline, a decrease in the frequency and intensity of convulsive cough.

Permission

After the completion of the previous stage, the final phase of the disease begins. Resolution indicates that the patient is recovering.

The duration of the phase is approximately 2 weeks. Spasmodic cough loses its previous characteristics and features. It is becoming rare, but annoying. When another bacterial infection is attached, a wet, wet cough is possible. Vomiting stops and appetite is restored.

Important! The cough may persist for a long time. This is usually facilitated by reduced immunity, which is the cause of overlapping viral infections.

Separately, pediatricians and infectious disease specialists highlight late convalescence. The child remains hyperexcitable and very sensitive to infections. The duration of this conditionally distinguished phase is up to six months.

How is whooping cough complicated?

The most common situation that the described disease leads to is emphysema. This is increased airiness of the lung tissue. This phenomenon occurs with whooping cough for obvious reasons - a prolonged inhalation during a reprise, an inadequate exhalation during a series of coughing shocks. This condition is accompanied by mixed shortness of breath.

Specific complications of whooping cough include pneumonia. Inflammation of the lung tissue is dangerous at any age, but the consequences of this process are especially dangerous in a child 3 years of age or earlier.

Pathological breathing with periods of apnea may develop. It is believed that this dangerous condition develops due to increasing hypoxia and encephalopathy.

When coughing, intracranial, intraocular, and intra-abdominal pressure increases. What does this mean?

Hernia formation.
The process of rectal prolapse.
Pneumothorax.
Hemorrhage into the skin, brain tissue.
Eardrum injury.
Ulcers of the frenulum on the tongue.

Only adequate therapy can avoid the development of these complications.

Features for different age groups

Young children are the most vulnerable group of people for this disease. They are most often diagnosed with severe variants of the pathology. It is noted that the incubation of the pathogen is noticeably shorter than the generally accepted one (reduced to a couple of days).

Symptoms in children under one year of age are typical. The cough is usually quiet. At the very first stages (at the age of a month, up to six months), a complete absence of cough is possible. There may be so-called equivalents: the appearance of hiccups, sneezing, unmotivated crying or even screaming.

A dangerous condition in a child aged 5 years or earlier is hemorrhagic syndrome.

Attention! It is worth noting that in this group of patients, hemorrhages into the skin or conjunctiva practically do not occur. But cerebral hemorrhages are very common.

Whooping cough also develops differently in vaccinated children. Usually the reason why a child still gets sick, despite vaccination, is insufficient immunity. Severe forms of whooping cough practically never occur in such children. The duration of the incubation period becomes longer, while the spasmodic period becomes noticeably shorter.

Pseudopertussis should be distinguished from whooping cough. This is another name for parapertussis infection. The symptoms and treatment of these diseases are generally not very different from each other. Everything about whooping cough can be found on specialized medical websites or in the clinic on health bulletins, or at a consultation with a pediatrician or therapist.

Diagnostics

In order to recognize whooping cough in a child, you need to see a doctor and undergo a number of necessary tests. What complaints and manifestations should indicate that a child has whooping cough?

A cough that causes gagging and vomiting itself.
Whooping cough.
Ulcers on the frenulum of the tongue from paroxysmal cough.

First of all, the doctor prescribes a blood test (general). He pays attention to the indicators of “red” and “white” blood. There is no anemic syndrome, but there is an increase in the number of leukocytes with relative or absolute lymphocytosis. Acceleration of ESR is typical.

A blood test for whooping cough involves determining antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. But this method makes it possible to make a diagnosis retrospectively, that is, after the disease has already passed. Blood tests for whooping cough are not very informative.

The bacteriological method has greater efficiency, specificity and sensitivity. To do this, material is collected from the nasopharynx. It is sent to the laboratory and placed in a nutrient medium. The result is the isolation and identification of the selected culture. Diagnosis of whooping cough does not end there. The next step is determining sensitivity to antibiotics. After all, it is not enough to identify whooping cough in a child; you also need to correctly and adequately treat whooping cough in children.

Treatment of the disease

Etiotropic treatment of whooping cough in children involves the use of antibacterial agents. Antibiotics for whooping cough are indicated only during the catarrhal period in all patients. Here you need to figure out the timing and have time to prescribe certain groups of medications. In the first week of the catarrhal phase (up to 10 days inclusive), aminoglycoside drugs are indicated.

Preference is given to oral medications (tablets, capsules). Sumamed and Erythromycin are considered the most effective from this group in the treatment of infectious diseases. These agents interfere with the colonization processes of Bordetella on the epithelial lining of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Thus, the main chain of infection pathogenesis is broken.

Penicillin drugs can be prescribed within 7 days from the onset of the disease. It is better if these are products that are protected from the action of lactamase by clavulanic acid. Use Amioxicillin, Amoxiclav. If ineffective, cephalosporin antibiotics can be used. These include a medicine for whooping cough such as Suprax.

Treatment of whooping cough in children at home under the periodic supervision of a pediatrician is possible at an older age in the absence of complications, when the severity level allows this to be done. Antibiotic therapy is used during the catarrhal or prodromal period. In order to relieve cough due to whooping cough, Eufillin injections are used. For this purpose, Ascoril and Joset are also prescribed.

When a broncho-obstructive component is attached, the use of bronchodilators is indicated - Pulmicort, Symbicort, Berodual. Inhalations for whooping cough during the spasmodic period are not indicated, as they can cause increased coughing. Physiotherapy for cough is also allowed only during the period of resolution.

Treatment with folk remedies is a controversial issue. It is impossible to cure whooping cough using unconventional methods, neglecting medication prescribed by the doctor. Traditional methods can be used, but only after agreement with the pediatrician and only when the cough subsides. You can try to discuss Komarovsky’s advice with your doctor.

Preventive measures

To prevent the disease in children of the first year of life - the most vulnerable group of patients - it was introduced against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. The first vaccination is performed at three months of age, and then according to the national vaccination calendar.

Prevention of whooping cough in kindergartens involves a measure such as quarantine. It is important to observe the incubation period and prevent mass morbidity in children.

Watch the video of Dr. Komarovsky:

A prolonged, painful cough, difficult to cure, is the main symptom of an infectious disease. Whooping cough is considered to be a childhood infection, but adults often suffer from its manifestations. How does this disease develop, what are its symptoms, and why is it difficult to treat? It is important to know the answers to questions in order to consult a doctor in time and cope with the disease at an early stage.

What is whooping cough

The infection that most often affects children is bacterial in nature. Whooping cough is a disease caused by the aerobic gram-negative coccus Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough bacillus) and occurs in an acute form.

The microorganism is characterized by low resistance to external influences. Pathogenic bacteria:
cannot tolerate temperatures above 56 degrees;
dies when using disinfectants;
within an hour it loses its viability from direct sunlight and ultraviolet radiation;

dies at low temperatures.

The pertussis bacillus, getting on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, spreads to the bronchi, larynx, and trachea.
This limits the area of its action - the spread of bacteria into deep tissues and throughout the body does not occur thanks to special villi that help to stay on the epithelium. Bordetella pertussis produces endotoxin, which:
irritates the vagus nerve;
provokes the passage of a signal to the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata;

forms a focus of excitation in it; causes a response to irritation - a reflex cough.

After the process of excitation in the nerve center, neighboring areas of the brain are affected, which provokes vomiting, vascular spasms, and convulsions.
The problem with this infectious disease is that:
the cough reflex is permanently fixed in the brain;;
difficult to treat;
persists for several weeks after the bacteria die

waste products of microorganisms lead to general intoxication;

endotoxin reduces the body's defenses.
The incubation period for whooping cough lasts from 3 to 14 days. Immunity against infection is developed only in a person who has recovered from the disease. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets. Please note:
the source of infection is a patient with pronounced clinical signs of whooping cough;
the pathogen spreads by coughing, sneezing, talking to a distance of no more than two meters - infection occurs only through close contact;

The infection is dangerous due to its complications. In childhood, untimely assistance can result in death. The severe consequences of whooping cough include:

cerebral hemorrhages;
damage to internal organs - liver, kidneys;
lung diseases;
epileptic seizures;
rupture of the eardrum;
respiratory arrest;
inflammation of the middle ear.

Symptoms

At the very beginning of the disease, whooping cough is similar to a cold, has similar symptoms - weakness, headache, chills, and only then a dry cough begins. An experienced doctor may suspect an infection because the usual antitussives do not produce results. The disease goes through several periods, which differ in symptoms. The catarrhal stage is characterized by:

runny nose;
moderate cough;
loss of appetite;
low-grade fever;
pressure change;
weakness;
irritability;
lacrimation;
a sore throat;
coughing attacks at night;
malaise.

After about two weeks, the spasmodic stage begins, which is characterized by a convulsive cough.. The attacks become frequent, intense, and a spastic (caused by spasm) narrowing of the glottis occurs, which generates a whistling sound before inhalation. The period can last up to a month, characterized by symptoms:

sore throat;
anxiety before a coughing attack;
hemorrhages on the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, facial skin, conjunctiva;
increased frequency of attacks at night and in the morning;
facial hyperemia;
dizziness;
swelling;
nausea;
fainting;
convulsions;
vomit.

Gradually, the infection enters the stage of resolution (recovery). The frequency of attacks decreases, they lose their spasmodic nature. The main symptoms subside, but nervous excitability, a state of weakness, and fatigue remain. Patients note:

the appearance of mucous sputum;
the possibility of coughing it up;
gradual cessation of attacks;
coughing that lasts for a long time.

Treatment for adults

Early diagnosis of infection helps avoid the development of severe coughing attacks. Treatment of whooping cough in adults is carried out on an outpatient basis. The disease is mild if vaccinated. Mandatory requirements are adherence to the regime, drinking large amounts of liquid to remove toxins. Doctors recommend:

breathe moist air enriched with oxygen;
take walks in nature, near bodies of water;
eat nutritiously, often, but in small portions;
get enough sleep;
exclude physical activity;
take vitamins.

Experts consider it important to form positive emotions that stimulate the production of endorphins. The release of the hormone reduces the frequency of coughing attacks. When treating whooping cough it is necessary:

limit nervous impressions - auditory, visual - do not watch TV, do not use the computer;
perform a complex of breathing exercises;
massage for better mucus removal.

Treatment begins with taking antibiotics, which the doctor selects individually. In the first days of the disease, specific anti-pertussis gamma globulin is administered. The treatment regimen for an infectious disease includes the following:

thinning sputum to reduce viscosity and better remove mucus;
antitussives, reducing the frequency of attacks;
antiallergic – to eliminate swelling;
corticosteroids - for severe inflammation.

In the treatment of whooping cough, mucolytic expectorants have little effect. To eliminate the symptoms of infection, the following is prescribed:

antispasmodics, for severe attacks - antipsychotics;
antihistamines with sedative effects;
oxygen therapy – saturation of tissues with oxygen;
for complications from the central nervous system - drugs that improve cerebral circulation;
inhalations with proteolytic enzymes that deprive microbes of nutrition and dilute sputum;
vasodilators that prevent oxygen starvation of the brain

Drug therapy

Treatment of whooping cough in the early stages of the disease begins with antibiotics. If the bacteria are destroyed in time, the development of a cough can be prevented. The duration of the course of therapy is determined by the doctor, taking into account the patient’s condition. For whooping cough, antibiotics are prescribed for prophylactic purposes:

if there is a sick person in the family;
in a children's or medical institution to anyone who has had contact with an infected person.

Antibiotic therapy for whooping cough does not allow self-medication. Simultaneously with the medications, probiotics Hilak Forte and Linex are prescribed to eliminate disturbances of the intestinal microflora. The treatment regimen includes the use of:

in the first days - penicillins - Flemoklav, Amoxiclav;
in subsequent years - antibiotics of the macrolide group - Roxithromycin, Clarithromycin, Midecamycin;
for inflammatory processes in the lungs, severe forms of infection: cephalosporins - Ceftriaxone, Cephalexin, aminoglycosides - Kanamycin, Gentamicin.

Therapy for whooping cough involves the use of several groups of antitussive drugs aimed at eliminating severe symptoms. Medicines prescribed for treatment:

mucolytics - dilute sputum, facilitate its discharge - Ambrobene, Ambroxol;
bronchodilators - reduce spasms - Eufillin, Broncholitin;
anti-anxiety – for severe coughing attacks – Seduxen, Relanium;
expectorants - increase sputum secretion, improve excretion - Tussin, Bronchicum, Stoptussin;
suppress attacks by influencing the cough center of the brain - Sinekod, Libexin.

When treating whooping cough in adults, doctors prescribe medications that improve the patient's condition and relieve symptoms of infection. Commonly used medications include:

Aminazine – eliminates restlessness, anxiety, gag reflex;
Prednisolone – a glucocorticosteroid – prevents pulmonary edema;
Himopsin is a proteolytic enzyme that thins mucus.

Medicines for the treatment of whooping cough are used in the form of tablets, injections, aerosol cans, and inhalants. Doctors prescribe:

Eufillin is a vasodilator, restores the breathing process, improves cerebral circulation;
Loratadine is an antihistamine that counteracts allergic reactions;
Vinpocetine – serves as a prophylaxis against hypoxia during severe coughing attacks.

Sinekod suppresses the cough reflex by acting on the central nervous system. The drug expands the lumen of the bronchi, helps saturate the blood with oxygen. Sinekod is distinguished by:

active ingredient – butamirate;
indications – suppression of cough in diseases, diagnostic procedures;
dosage - determined by the doctor, depends on the form of release, the age of the patient;
special conditions - do not use together with mucolytic, expectorant drugs;
contraindications – sensitivity to components, pregnancy;
side effects - drowsiness, nausea.

The plant-based drug Bronchicum has an expectorant and antimicrobial effect. Available in the form of an oral solution. The medicine has:

active substances – thyme herb extract, primrose roots;
indications for use: cough with difficult to clear sputum;
dosage – a teaspoon up to 6 times a day;
contraindications – heart failure, pathologies of the liver, kidneys, sensitivity to components, breastfeeding, pregnancy;
side effects - allergic reactions, nausea.

The antibiotic Midecamycin belongs to the group of macrolides, stops the synthesis of proteins in bacteria, and contains the active substance of the same name. The drug is produced in the form of tablets, powder for making a suspension. Midecamycin is characterized by:

indications for use – infectious diseases;
dosage for adults – maximum 1.6 grams per day;
contraindications – pathologies of the kidneys, liver, history of allergies;
side effects - heaviness in the epigastrium, elevated liver tests, anorexia.

Treatment of whooping cough in children

If the baby has been vaccinated, then when infected, he suffers from an atypical form of whooping cough. The disease occurs without pronounced symptoms, which complicates diagnosis and delays the start of treatment. During infancy:

the disease develops rapidly;
requires immediate hospitalization;
doctors recommend increasing the number of breastfeedings by reducing the portion of milk;
Lack of timely assistance can result in death.

Treatment for whooping cough in older children, if there are no complications, respiratory arrest during an attack, is carried out on an outpatient basis. Parents need to create favorable conditions at home:

eliminate excitement, fear;
distract from an attack with toys, cartoons - the brain switches, sensitivity to irritation of the cough center decreases;
reduce the room temperature to 16 degrees;
humidify the air with a special device or sprinkler;
feed the child liquid food so that chewing movements do not cause a cough;
take walks in the air near the water.

To remove toxins, it is recommended to give your baby plenty of fluids - alkaline mineral water, fruit drinks, compotes, juices, milk. Treatment of whooping cough in children with antibiotics is effective at an early stage, before coughing attacks begin. Taking prophylactic medications as prescribed by a doctor will prevent the development of infection if one of the family members is sick. Treatment of children begins with the administration of immunoglobulin. To eliminate symptoms use:

antispasmodics, antipsychotics, reducing the number of attacks;
antihistamines to relieve laryngeal edema;
cold medicines.

Treatment of whooping cough in children with folk remedies is popular, but it is used as an addition to the main course of therapy. D To improve the condition of infection, use:

sedatives to relieve nervous excitement;
preparations for thinning and removing mucus;
antihistamines to eliminate allergic reactions;
oxygen therapy;
vitamin complexes;
breathing exercises;
acupuncture;
massage.

Treatment of whooping cough in children at home

To speed up the child’s recovery, parents must strictly follow all the pediatrician’s instructions. To cope with the infection, doctors recommend following a daily routine and implementing simple rules. At home you need:

exclude contact with other children to prevent infection;
regularly ventilate the room;
carry out wet cleaning;
organize meals that prevent throat irritation.

When treating whooping cough in children, it is necessary to create a calm environment at home, to avoid stress, nervous tension, and crying. Pediatricians recommend:

walk daily at a temperature not lower than minus 15 degrees;
avoid physical activity so as not to provoke coughing attacks;
provide plenty of fluids to remove toxic waste products of the pertussis bacillus;
Follow your doctor's instructions for taking medications.

Medicines

To increase the body's resistance, at the onset of the disease, the child is administered Gamma globulin. The infection is caused not by the proliferation of bacteria, but by their action on the cough center of the brain. Use of antibiotics in children:

performed only as prescribed by a pediatrician;
effective at the very beginning of the disease, but then the diagnosis has not yet been definitely made;
prescribed during the catarrhal period of whooping cough development;
carry out short courses of drugs Erythromycin, Azithromycin;
performed in case of development of purulent bronchitis, pneumonia using Suprax, Amoxiclav, Ceftriaxone.

Since antitussive drugs for whooping cough are ineffective, in case of severe attacks, doctors prescribe medications in pediatric dosages that eliminate individual symptoms:

Lazolvan, Ambroxol – mucolytics, thin sputum;
Bromhexine – stimulates the removal of mucus;
Sinekod – reduces the excitation of the activity of the cough center;
Relanium is a sedative and has a calming effect;
Bronholitin is a bronchodilator, relieves spasms;
Tavegil is an antihistamine that eliminates allergic manifestations;
Eufillin is a vasodilator, restores breathing.

The drug Lazolvan is used as a mucolytic agent - it thins sputum and improves mucus discharge. Available in the form of a solution for inhalation and oral administration. Lazolvan has:

active ingredient – ambroxol;
indications for use: respiratory diseases accompanied by the appearance of viscous sputum;
dosage - depends on the age of the child, the form of use of the drug;
contraindications – renal, liver failure, sensitivity to components;
side effects - rarely rash, urticaria, nausea.

Bromhexine has mucolytic and expectorant effects. It is used in the treatment of diseases that are accompanied by difficult to remove mucus. The drug is available in tablets, in the form of syrup, solution for injection, it is distinguished by:

active ingredient – bromhexine hydrochloride;
dosage from 6 years – one tablet three times a day;
contraindications – hypersensitivity to Bromhexine, lactation, pregnancy;
side effects - headache, rashes, increased sweating.

Treatment with folk remedies

The use of prescriptions with medicinal plants is permissible only with the consent of a doctor. This is due to the possible development of allergic reactions that aggravate the symptoms of whooping cough. Traditional healers recommend:

to ease breathing in adults, apply a compress to the chest using equal parts of vinegar, eucalyptus and camphor oil;
for a painful cough, drink a decoction of the husks of 10 onions in a liter of water– you need to evaporate the solution by half, strain, take 100 ml three times a day.

To treat whooping cough, it is recommended to conduct aromatherapy sessions with fir essential oil. Apply a few drops to a hot frying pan and inhale the vapors. To eliminate cough and alleviate the condition, use home remedies:

garlic oil – crush 4 cloves, add a glass of vegetable oil, heat for 5 minutes, cool, drink a teaspoon three times a day;
composition of 0.1 g of mumiyo dissolved in 50 ml of water, taken in the morning, on an empty stomach for 10 days;
radish or garlic juice, fir oil - used for back massage.

Prevention

The main measure to exclude whooping cough infection is vaccination, which is routine and begins at three months of age. The DTP vaccine is administered three times at one and a half month intervals. Unfortunately, vaccination does not provide a complete guarantee against infection, but the disease in this case is mild. Preventive measures include:

early detection of infected patients;
monitoring the health status of persons in contact;
limiting the stay of children in places where large numbers of people gather.

It is necessary to conduct preventive examinations of children and adults working in medical institutions, children's groups (kindergartens, schools), when cases of prolonged cough are detected. In this situation, to exclude the disease:

carry out preventive treatment with antibiotics;
perform tests to confirm infection;
adults are given immunoglobulin that has antibodies to whooping cough;
parents report to the kindergarten or school about the child’s illness;
healthcare workers with a confirmed diagnosis of whooping cough are isolated from contact with visitors.

Video

Whooping cough is a dangerous disease that most often occurs in childhood. To avoid a threat to the health and life of the child, parents must be able to identify early symptoms and signs of the disease and consult a doctor in a timely manner. Preventive measures to prevent the child from becoming infected are important.

What is whooping cough

Whooping cough is an infectious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract. The severe course of the disease in children under six months of age can lead to severe complications. Whooping cough can be transmitted by sneezing, coughing, or talking; the causative agent is the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. A special analysis will help identify it. During its life cycle, it releases a special toxin into the blood. It irritates the mucous membranes of the bronchi and larynx, causing a barking, dry, catarrhal cough. Outside the body, the bacterium quickly dies.

Outbreaks of the disease are observed in autumn and winter. The disease is transmitted only through direct contact; you can become infected through coughing. Once in the respiratory tract, lined with ciliated epithelium, the bacterium begins to rapidly multiply on the mucous membranes of the bronchi, lungs and larynx. It is very important to diagnose whooping cough in children in a timely manner - symptoms and treatment may vary from person to person.

People have no immunity to this disease. Even after a person has had whooping cough, the antibodies remain in the body for only 5 years. Immunity is not lifelong and there is a risk of re-infection. Vaccination is a good protective measure to control the spread of whooping cough. When a vaccinated person becomes infected, the disease occurs in an erased form and the risk of death is significantly reduced. On average, the resolution period is 95–120 days; for this reason, the disease is sometimes also called the “hundred-day cough.”

Whooping cough - symptoms in children

The most characteristic symptom is the appearance of a non-productive, spasmodic cough, which has the character of an attack. The incubation period of the disease is from 7 to 30 days. The symptoms of whooping cough in a child develop gradually and at the initial stage are very similar to the manifestations of acute respiratory infections. Parents, unaware of the diagnosis, continue to take the child to kindergarten, but for the first 5-12 days the child’s cough is contagious, and the virus is quickly transmitted to others.

The disease is especially dangerous in children under one year of age. If a baby under six months old falls ill, he is subject to immediate hospitalization. Adults rarely get the “hundred-day cough.” At risk are infants, children from one to five years of age, and adolescents. In order to recognize the disease in time, you need to know how whooping cough manifests itself in children. When whooping cough begins, the symptoms are the same as for a cold:

The patient complains of chills, muscle and headache, and general weakness.
There is swelling of the mucous membrane and the appearance of a slight runny nose.
The pharynx is red, the skin is pale.
The temperature rises, tachycardia appears - rapid heartbeat.
The person becomes lethargic and loses appetite.

As the disease progresses, the paroxysmal stage begins. A dry, spasmodic cough develops. It is not treatable with antitussives. You need to know how to distinguish the signs of whooping cough in a child from a common cold in order to begin targeted treatment in time.

Temperature

A characteristic feature of this insidious disease is the presence of low temperature. This is the first sure sign of a dangerous disease. The temperature during whooping cough rarely reaches 38 °C and never rises higher. If you see a number greater than 38 on the thermometer, this is not contagious whooping cough, but a common acute respiratory infection, bronchitis or pneumonia. But only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.

Cough

How to identify whooping cough in a child - by the presence of a characteristic cough. It begins to appear only two weeks after the onset of the first symptoms. The cough gradually increases, becomes more intense and frequent. Attacks are especially frequent at night, they interfere with the child’s sleep and cause hypoxia. The attack consists of several coughing shocks and a long wheezing breath. There can be from 3 to 45 such cases per day, they end with the release of a small amount of glass-like sputum or vomiting.

Cough is dangerous for infants. In children 6 months of age, breathing may stop during an attack, which can even lead to death. It is very important that during an illness the baby is in a medical facility where he can receive immediate help. Such severe coughing attacks cause hemorrhages on the mucous membranes. Capillaries burst in the eyes, on the baby’s neck, and hematomas occur.

Treatment of whooping cough in children

Parapertussis does not cause a large percentage of mortality and severe consequences in children, only due to mandatory vaccinations and the introduction of quarantine in children's institutions. After diagnosing the disease, the doctor prescribes therapy. The following medications are used for treatment:

centrally acting antitussives based on codeine;
antibiotics;
prebiotics and probiotics;
vitamins;
expectorants and mucolytics;
antihistamines.

How to treat whooping cough and what medications to take is decided only by the attending physician. The parents’ task is to ensure proper care for the baby and timely administration of medications in the required dosage. It is very important! But parents can also contribute to a speedy recovery. In the fight against infection, walks, bright books with pictures, toys, fun - everything that can distract the baby are very effective.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are widely used to treat whooping cough in children. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more effective antibacterial therapy will be. When the child is in the hospital, intramuscular administration of ceftriaxone is effective. During home quarantine, antibiotics are prescribed in the form of syrups. The most effective of them are based on amoxicillin, azithromycin or 2-3 generation cephalosporins. The course can last 5-10 days.

Treatment of whooping cough in children at home

If the child is over a year old or the disease is not severe, you can treat whooping cough in children at home. Babies or children with a severe course of the disease are admitted to the hospital. First of all, you need to provide the patient with fresh air and optimal humidity (40-60%) in the room. If the weather is good outside and the baby is no longer contagious, walk a lot. Stick to your doctor's orders - this is very important. In this state, any nervous shock is contraindicated. React to your cough calmly. Increase the flow of positive emotions - offer a game, entertain the baby.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for whooping cough in children can effectively combat symptoms, shorten the duration and cure the disease:

Variations of warm milk with cocoa butter, butter, and honey can help relieve a cough.
Rub your chest with badger or goat fat - this will restore microcirculation in the bronchi area.
Give the patient a back massage, this promotes effective mucus removal.
It is useful to carry out inhalations using a nebulizer or a warm-moist method.
Let your baby breathe over potatoes, a decoction of eucalyptus, and calendula.
For internal use, you can brew linden, chamomile, plantain - these herbs help quickly remove toxins from the body.

Video

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials in the article do not encourage self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by the whooping cough bacillus (scientifically called Bordetella). Its most characteristic symptom is a cough of a special nature - convulsive, paroxysmal and very prolonged. It’s not for nothing that they call it “hundred-day”.

The causative agent of whooping cough outside the patient’s body is very unstable. Environmental conditions kill it instantly. Therefore, a child can become infected only if he is very close - up to one and a half to two meters from the source.

Pertussis is spread by airborne droplets, coughing, and talking at close range. The patient is dangerous as a source of infection from the first days of manifestation or a day earlier.

At the same time, since the onset of whooping cough looks like a common cold, he is not isolated, which leads to further infection of others.

Often parents or older children, suffering from erased forms, without knowing it, infect the younger ones. Newborns have no immunity to it.

What happens in the body?

Bordetella, entering the body, strives to penetrate a certain place. It is not like a commonplace virus, which, settling in the nasopharynx, causes a runny nose and pain when swallowing. Its target is organs covered with epithelium with outgrowths (cilia). These are the trachea, larynx, bronchi.

By attaching to them, the bacterium multiplies and releases toxins. As a result, epithelial cells begin to produce more mucus. But its removal from the respiratory tract is impaired due to damage to the cilia. Mucus accumulates, causing irritation and a cough reflex.

Toxins, when they enter the vascular network, are carried through the bloodstream throughout the body. Penetrating into organs and tissues, they disrupt work at a subtle biochemical level. Oxygen starvation (hypoxia) develops in the cells, and almost all organ systems suffer from this.

When pertussis toxin enters the central nervous system, a focus of constant excitation (dominant) is formed in the cough center of the brain. Therefore, the cough drags on.

From now on, exposure to almost any irritant will lead to a coughing attack. And even after a month, when neither bordetella nor its toxins are in the body, the effect remains.

As an infectious process, it is characterized by periodicity.

Incubation period

There are absolutely no external signs. But inside the body everything is already preparing for manifestation. It is believed that the child is contagious to others from the last day of this stage. Its duration is on average 10 - 12 days.

Period of prodrome (harbingers)

External symptoms appear. Body temperature rises slightly and coughing appears. The general condition does not suffer. It is difficult to recognize and identify whooping cough at this stage. The child continues to go to kindergarten and school. At the same time, coughing and communicating, infects other children.

Parents, be careful! Of course, everything looks fine outwardly - a slight cough, and there may be no fever at all. But maybe it’s still better to go to your doctor and consult with him?

Of course, it won't necessarily be whooping cough. But if you suspect it, the doctor will prescribe a bacteriological test for you. After all, the sooner it is carried out, the greater the chances of a positive result. This bacterium is very capricious and sensitive. If there is the slightest error when collecting material, the study will become uninformative. The child may have a swab taken from the back of the throat or asked to cough into a special cup containing nutrient medium.

To improve the test result, it is preferable not to eat or brush your teeth the day before.

It is very important to conduct this examination early. Already from the second week from the moment the first symptoms appear, less and less bacteria will be released.

A general blood test will also be required.

The duration of the prodromal period is about a week or two. In vaccinated people it can be extended to twenty-one days, in children under one year it is shortened to three to five days.

Symptoms here reach their maximum development. The cough acquires its typical paroxysmal character. Having heard it only once, you won’t confuse it with anything else later.

The attack begins with a series of coughing tremors. The child cannot stop and take a breath. His face becomes bluish-pale, puffy, and capillaries in the mucous membranes and skin may burst. The inhalation that follows is convulsive, choking, whistling (reprise). Afterwards, in some cases, sputum comes out, sometimes vomiting occurs.

Children under one year of age suffer greatly. Due to the shortened prodrome, their spasmodic period lasts longer. With vomiting, much-needed nutrients and fluids are lost. The immune system is overstrained because it is necessary to protect the body from the accumulation of another infection. It is not uncommon for attacks to be accompanied by a period of breath holding (apnea).

This can last up to several minutes. Lack of oxygen has a very negative effect on the brain, causing further disruption of its functioning. Children who already have a pathology of the nervous system (etc.) are especially susceptible to this.

The number of attacks can be up to fifty per day! Any irritant, be it a sharp sound, light or food intake, can trigger a cough.

Between attacks, health does not suffer, which distinguishes whooping cough from other coughing diseases.

This painful period lasts up to one and a half months. Then the symptoms subside.

Resolution period

The cough fades away and loses its frightening paroxysm. The child is recovering.

There is an infection whose manifestation and name are very similar to whooping cough. This is parawhooping cough. The causative agent is different. It proceeds much easier, without pronounced cough attacks. Complications are rare.

Treatment of whooping cough in children is mainly at home. Hospitalization is only necessary for infants and when complications develop.

Mode

Particular attention is paid to the regime:

Avoid contact with children while walking. If another infection occurs, the risk of complications will increase tenfold.

Dress appropriately for the weather, but avoid overheating.

Use of antibiotics.

Parents often have diametrically opposed opinions regarding their use. Some give it to children every time they sneeze, others hold it out and wait for complications.

Treatment with antibiotics is allowed only after they are prescribed by a doctor! Please do not prescribe them to your children yourself. In one case they are a blessing, in the second they are useless, in the third they are poison.

But in the case of whooping cough, they are necessary. Taking them at the beginning is especially important. Erythromycin or azithromycin is usually prescribed.

When whooping cough is already at its peak, antibiotics make it non-infectious to others and help minimize bacterial complications. But they are no longer able to influence the extinction of the cough attack itself. No matter how hard you try, only time can heal now.

Doctor Komarovsky speaks: “...But if the same erythromycin is prescribed in the catarrhal period - in the first days of the illness, when there is no overstimulation of the cough center - so, in this period the medicine may well interrupt the disease and not lead the person to attacks.”

Mucolytics.

Yes, the cough will not become more productive or less frequent when taking them. But! The sputum they will affect will become less viscous and easier to remove from the body. The same ambroxol (aka Lazolvan) will help you a lot in this case.

Do not use jars, mustard plasters, heating pads and other folk remedies for whooping cough, such as cabbage leaves, crushed garlic, kerosene and other tips - reviews from forums on the Internet - they will not do any good, and may even cause harm!

If complications occur (pneumonia, atelectasis, damage to the cardiovascular and nervous systems), treatment takes place exclusively in a hospital. There the remedies are much more serious and depend on clinical manifestations. Infants are also subject to mandatory hospitalization. They have a harder time with coughing attacks and are more likely to develop complications. up to a year the most dangerous.

Whooping cough is not a very dangerous disease. In adults and older children, it occurs relatively easily - in an erased or abortive (without pronounced clinical manifestations) form. Young children are at greatest risk.

Most cases of complications and almost all deaths occur in children under two years of age.

How to protect them? The answer is known to everyone and is true not only for whooping cough. Of course this is vaccination. It is carried out with a combined vaccine against three diseases at once: whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus (DPT).

Children are vaccinated at three, four and six months, with revaccination at one and a half years. Immunity is reliable for several years, but then gradually weakens. Twelve years later, not a trace remains of him. But small children are protected, and older ones endure it much easier.

Parents really don't like this vaccine. Almost every baby has a fever after it, sometimes high and long. As a result, it is not uncommon to refuse the next one. And the baby becomes completely unaccustomed and therefore more susceptible to the disease.

Of course, no one can force you to give consent. The pediatrician will definitely try to convince you and tell you about the consequences. Listen to him! After all, the disease itself, its complications, and the torment of your child are incomparable to a banal reaction to a vaccine.

Be healthy!