A 7-year-old girl named Lulu originally had a mild cough that her family thought was caused by a common cold. But as time went on, the cough worsened, and parents became worried. The first thing they considered was that the child was weak and was given cold medication, but the symptoms were not relieved. At the initial visit, the doctor prescribed symptomatic treatment, despite the fact that the laboratory test results showed no abnormalities. However, as the symptoms progressed, especially the thick sputum and wheezing during the cough, the doctor conducted a more in-depth examination and finally diagnosed whooping cough.
What symptoms are manifestations of whooping cough?
Pertussis, an acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, is extremely contagious. Before vaccines were widely adopted, it was one of the most common diseases in children and one of the leading causes of infant and young child mortality worldwide. Early symptoms of the disease resemble the common cold, and atypical cases may be asymptomatic or present with only a mild cough and mild fever. Clinically, the disease is characterized by sudden, spasmodic cough and high-pitched inhalatory sounds of chicken crows. The course of the disease can last from 2 to 3 months, hence the name whooping cough. Patients experience frequent, continuous, brief coughs until they are exhausted, followed by long, deep inhalations. Because the larynx is spasmodic during inhalation, a large amount of air passes quickly through the narrow glottis, resulting in a special high-pitched rooster crow. This cough usually lasts several times until thick phlegm is coughed up. In severe cough episodes, nosebleeds, hemoptysis, and subconjunctival hemorrhage, or even intracranial hemorrhage, may occur.
People with mild disease may have several episodes per day, while those with severe disease may have dozens of episodes per day, especially at night. Stimuli such as running, eating, getting cold, smoking, crying loudly, or checking the throat can trigger a crampy cough. If there are no concurrent infections, the child usually has a normal body temperature and no fever. Neonates and infants often do not have the typical spastic cough, but rather have sudden apnea and cyanosis, which can sometimes lead to death by asphyxiation.
What are the precautions?
The first and most effective way to prevent whooping cough is vaccination. The mainland is currently implementing a universal plan for pertussis vaccines, especially for newborns. To maximize immunization, it is recommended to receive diphtheria-pertussis triple vaccine (for pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus) at 3, 4, and 5 months of age, and a booster dose at 18 to 24 months of age. Parents are often concerned about the number of vaccinations, which is why a combination of multiple vaccines is the preferred one. This not only reduces the number of vaccinations, but also reduces the risk of other diseases in children.
In addition to vaccination, we need to take other precautions to fight off whooping cough:
Protective responsibilities for adults: Adults, especially those with respiratory diseases, should avoid close contact or kissing with children to prevent the spread of the virus. Environmental hygiene: Avoid crowded places, wear a mask to reduce the risk of transmission, and ventilate regularly to keep the living environment clean to reduce the growth of bacteria. Boost immunity: Moderate exercise, regular work and rest, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet, especially vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits, can all help improve the body's immunity. Prevention for special populations: for infants and young children and frail people, pertussis polyvalent immune globulin injections may be considered, and overuse of antibiotics should be avoided. Finally, given the long-term effects of whooping cough, we should also reduce our exposure to allergens and substances that irritate the respiratory tract to reduce symptoms such as coughing.