It is a common occurrence for every child to experience an occasional cough once in a while. Every child has tried having cough at some point in their lives. This is all normal, since the world we live in has various microorganisms that can either benefit or harm our bodies. The bacterium that causes cough is one of those microorganisms. Whooping Cough also referred to as Pertussis is a highly communicable or contagious disease that is caused by the bacteria called Bordetella Pertussis. Whooping cough usually lasts for 6 weeks before the body heals from the disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of Pertussis? During the 7th to 10th day of the infection, called the incubation stage, the child or infant may manifest signs of mild respiratory infection including mild coughing, runny nose and sneezing. A week or two after, the child’s cough may become worse, uncontrollable and forceful; a high-pitched “whoop” sound may even accompany the cough. During this time since the condition is getting worse, the child may find it difficult to breath. After the 2nd week, if the condition is left untreated and is worsened, the child may experience vomiting, malnutrition, and round the clock severe coughing. Complications of this disease include pneumonia, encephalopathy and seizures. For newborns, pertussis infection is very dangerous and may become fatal.
Pertussis is very contagious and the means of disease transmission is through air and droplets. Sometimes, this disease can only be diagnosed when the appropriate symptoms are manifested. Whooping cough can also be diagnosed using a bacterial culture and sensitivity from a specimen collected from the child’s nasopharyngeal cavity or sputum. Some Doctors would also order chest x-rays and blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. This disease pose a great threat to babies and children, and because of that, they are encouraged to be vaccinated against it. The Pertussis vaccine is very effective in preventing the disease, the immunity lasts for a few years, and in some cases, it could last through out the entire childhood, which is very important, since this is the time he’s very vulnerable to the disease. The Pertussis vaccine given to children is commonly incorporated with another vaccine which protects against tetanus, this vaccine is called DTap. This vaccine is normally given 3 times during infancy and 2 more times when the child is 4 to 6 years old. The shots are divided accordingly to ensure adequate protection.
As common as whooping cough seems, it is still a major disease which causes major complications such as pneumonia, ear infection, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, loss of consciousness, dehydration, malnutrition, seizures, and certain forms of brain and breathing disorders. Whooping cough is also very life-threatening, that is why it is very important for every child to be vaccinated against this killer disease. As cliché as is sounds, for Pertussis, prevention is still better than cure. So for children, who’s generally at risk, it is essential for them to always practice a healthy lifestyle and do activities that promote well-being.
