A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

WHOOPING COUGH

How does whooping cough occur ?

Bacteria enter the air passages and damage the lining of the wind pipe and the main air passages in the lungs. This inflammation of the airways leads to increased mucus production.

Why does whooping cough occur ?

People who have neither had the disease previously nor been vaccinated against it are likely to get it if they come into contact with the bacteria.

Treatment Involved

Most patients can be treated at home. Very young children may need to be treated in hospital. If the illness is recognized early, an antibiotic, erythromycin, may be prescribed by the doctor. This may shorten the duration of the illness and make it less infectious to others. Cough medicines are not helpful. In the UK, vaccination has helped to fight the disease. It is given during the first year of life together with the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines. Although pertussis vaccine occasionally has a few side-effects, vaccination is nevertheless strongly recommended. The disease itself may be severe in non-vaccinated infants and young children.

During treatment of whooping cough

The illness may take up to 4 weeks to get better. Cough may last for 2 to 3 months. Severe coughing may lead to nose bleeds or bleeding in the whites of the eye. Also middle ear or lung infections may occur. These cause pain in the ear, or cough and fever respectively. These complications may need to be treated with antibiotics.

If whooping cough is left untreated

Only if the complications are not treated are there possible problems to be expected. Untreated middle ear infection may cause a perforated ear drum or deafness. Untreated pneumonia may cause an unnecessarily long illness.

Effects on Family of whooping cough

Infants and small children, especially if they have not been vaccinated, should be kept away from patients with whooping cough. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics or recommend vaccination of other children in the family. An affected child may be infectious for up to one month after the start of the cough. However, if an antibiotic has been prescribed, then the infectious period is reduced to less than a week.