Children always cough and cough, beware of whooping cough

What is whooping cough, as mothers ask? Doctors from the infectious disease department of the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University answer the questions for parents.

PART 1

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis .

Its clinical characteristics are paroxysmal spasmodic cough accompanied by a deep "cock-crowing"-like inspiratory roar . If not treated promptly and effectively, the course of the disease may last for about several months, hence the name "whooping cough."

PART 2

Clinical manifestations of whooping cough

1. Catarrhal stage

Generally 7-10 days, the main symptoms are low fever, sneezing, runny nose, and conjunctival congestion.

2. Spasmodic cough stage

Paroxysmal, spasmodic coughs are characteristic manifestations of the disease, which usually last for 2-6 weeks or longer. Similar spasmodic coughs are repeated many times until a large amount of sticky sputum or gastric contents are coughed up. The child's activities are normal between spasmodic coughs, and minor stimulation such as eating, crying, and catching a cold can induce spasmodic coughs again.

3. Recovery period

The frequency and severity of coughing attacks gradually decrease, and the crowing inspiratory echo disappears. This period usually lasts for 2-3 weeks.

PART 3

How to care for a baby during the whooping cough period?

1. When the spasmodic cough is severe, the baby should be placed in a side-lying or sitting position. Family members can pat the baby's back to vibrate the sputum to facilitate its discharge. When patting the baby's back, pay attention to closely observe whether the baby's face turns blue and keep the baby's respiratory tract unobstructed. Babies with a lot of or thick sputum can drink an appropriate amount of water, or use expectorants, or cooperate with nebulization treatment to dilute the sputum. If necessary, suction care can be performed to avoid suffocation caused by sputum blockage.

2. Determine whether the baby is choking in time. If the baby coughs until there is no sound or the face turns blue, etc., immediately place the baby in a prone position (back up, face down), raise the buttocks, and hold the back with your hands in a dorsal bulge with your palms empty to expel the phlegm from the body in time.

3. Feed the baby reasonably, eat small meals frequently, avoid choking caused by eating large amounts, and avoid factors that induce spasmodic coughs (such as crying, catching cold, emotional excitement, etc.).

Sharing some knowledge: The correct way to pat the back is to pat the back from the bottom of the lungs up with your hands with your palms empty, avoiding the middle of the spine, and using appropriate force.

PART 4

Under what circumstances is hospitalization required?

The baby's cough lasts for a long time and persists, and tends to get worse;

The baby has severe spasmodic coughing, with breath holding or bluish lips and face;

The baby has symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and difficulty breathing;

The baby shows symptoms such as lethargy, irritability, crying, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting.

Moms, please be careful. Once your baby shows the above symptoms, send him to the hospital for treatment immediately!

PART 5

How can whooping cough be prevented?

Active immunization: 4 doses of TDaP (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) vaccine, 1 dose each at 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and 18 months of age.

Passive immunization: used for weak babies who have not received preventive injections. When whooping cough occurs, highly effective immunoglobulin containing whooping cough antitoxin can be injected.

Isolation: The isolation period is 40 days from the start of the baby's cough, or 30 days from the start of the spasmodic cough; children with a history of contact should be isolated for 21 days.