Written by Nahir Abdel Nabi
Saturday, May 20, 2023 05:00 AM
Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of your nose and throat that spreads easily, but some vaccines can help prevent it in children and adults. webmd The symptoms of whooping cough are:
Symptoms of whooping cough
At first, whooping cough has the same symptoms as a common cold :
mild cough
– Sneeze
-Runny nose
-Fever
You may also get diarrhea early on.
After about 7-10 days, the cough turns into “coughing fits” that end with a whooping sound as the person tries to breathe in air .
Because the cough is dry and does not produce mucus, these bouts can last up to 1 minute. Sometimes it can cause your face to turn red or purple for a while..
Most people with whooping cough experience coughing fits, but not everyone does.
Babies may not make a whooping sound or even cough, but they may gasp for air or try to catch their breath during these outbursts. Some may vomit.
Sometimes adults with this condition have a cough that doesn’t go away.
Complications of whooping cough
Whooping cough is dangerous for babies, especially babies younger than 6 months old, because it can prevent them from getting the oxygen they need. This can cause:
Brain damage or bleeding
-Pneumonia
– seizures
– Apnea
-cramps
--If you think your child may have it, see your doctor immediately.
Children younger than 18 months with whooping cough should be watched at all times because coughing fits can make them stop breathing. Small children with bad conditions may also need hospital care..
Help protect your child by making sure that he and any adults around him receive it often.
In teens and adults, whooping cough can lead to pneumonia that can also cause severe coughing:
Abdominal hernia
Broken blood vessels
Bruises in the ribs
Trouble controlling urination
Sleep problems
Whooping cough causes and risk factors
A type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough. If a person with whooping cough sneezes, laughs, or coughs, small droplets containing this bacteria may fly in the air. You may get sick if you inhale the droplets..
When bacteria enter the airways, they stick to tiny hairs in the linings of the lungs. The bacteria cause swelling and inflammation, which leads to a long-lasting dry cough and other cold-like symptoms.
Whooping cough can make anyone of any age sick It may last 3 to 6 weeks You can get sick from it even if you have already been vaccinated, but it is unlikely.
Whooping cough treatment and home remedies
If you find out you have whooping cough early on, antibiotics can help reduce your cough and other symptoms. They can also help prevent the infection from spreading to others. But most people are diagnosed too late for antibiotics to work as well.
Do not use over-the-counter cough medicines, cough suppressants, or expectorants (medicines that make you cough up mucus) to treat whooping cough. They do not work..
If your coughing fits are so bad that it prevents you from drinking enough fluids, you may become dehydrated. If this happens, contact your doctor immediately..
You can do some things to feel better and recover faster:
Get plenty of rest. This can give your body more power to fight off the disease.
Eat small meals whenever you feel able. Eating more often can help prevent vomiting caused by sometimes harsh bouts of coughing..
Clean air Keeping the air around you free of dust, smoke, and other irritants can help soothe a cough.
Drink fluids Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water or juice. If you notice signs of dehydration, such as dry lips or urinating less, contact your doctor immediately.
