Whooping cough or pertussis is caused by bacteria that infect the lungs and respiratory tract.
Bordetella pertussis is a type of bacteria that is the main cause of whooping cough.
The typical symptom of whooping cough is a violent, uncontrollable cough that makes it difficult for the sufferer to breathe.
After a cough clears up, people with pertussis often need to take deep breaths, producing a “whooping” sound.
This disease is highly contagious and is more likely to attack children. If it attacks children and the elderly, whooping cough can be fatal, especially in infants who are not old enough to receive the pertussis vaccine.
Whooping Cough Symptoms
Generally, whooping cough symptoms can appear between 7 to 21 days after the Bordetella pertussis bacteria enter the respiratory tract.
Symptoms of whooping cough can be divided into three stages, especially in babies and children, namely:
1. First Stage
At this early stage, the symptoms that appear are still mild, such as sneezing, runny and blocked nose, watery eyes, sore throat, mild cough, and fever.
This stage can last up to two weeks and it is at this stage that a person with whooping cough is at risk of transmitting it to those around them.
2. Second Stage
This stage is characterized by the easing of all flu symptoms, but the cough becomes worse and uncontrollable.
The sufferer will then cough loudly and continuously, which begins with a long breath through the mouth.
After a coughing attack, babies and children with whooping cough may experience vomiting and fatigue.
This condition can last about 2-4 weeks or more.
3. Third Stage
Well, at this stage the body starts to improve, but the symptoms of whooping cough remain and the cough can even get worse.
This recovery phase can last up to two months or more depending on the treatment.
Here are some conditions that must be treated immediately by a doctor:
- A baby aged 0-6 months who looks very unhealthy.
- The sufferer begins to experience difficulty breathing.
- If the sufferer experiences serious complications, such as seizures or pneumonia.
- The sufferer makes a sound when breathing.
- When the sufferer vomits due to severe whooping cough.
- The body turns red or blue.
Causes of Whooping Cough
The cause of whooping cough is an infection with the bacteria Bordetella pertussis which can spread through the air.
Initially, the bacteria attack the walls of the trachea and bronchi (the branches of the trachea leading to the right and left lungs). Then the airways swell as a result of the reaction to the bacterial infection.
Therefore, the swelling of the airways makes the sufferer have to inhale strongly through the mouth because of difficulty breathing. The result of this strong inhalation is what causes a long wheezing sound.
When bacteria infect the walls of the airways, the body produces thick mucus.
This is why the body will stimulate sufferers to expel thick mucus by coughing.
Risk Factors for Whooping Cough
DPT vaccination is the only way to reduce the risk of whooping cough.
A person who does not get it is at greater risk of being infected with the Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
The following groups of individuals are more susceptible to whooping cough because they are not old enough to receive the vaccine or have certain conditions:
- Pregnant women during the last trimester of pregnancy.
- Newborn baby.
- Babies who are under 1 year old and have not received complete DPT vaccination.
- People with weak immune systems.
- People who suffer from chronic diseases such as asthma or heart failure.
- Children under 10 years of age who have not been vaccinated with DPT.
Whooping Cough Diagnosis
First of all, the doctor needs to ask about the patient’s medical history and the symptoms he or she is currently experiencing.
Doctors may misdiagnose whooping cough as the common flu or another respiratory infection because whooping cough in adults usually does not cause severe symptoms.
However, if the cough persists, your doctor may recommend further medical tests to diagnose the problem.
Tests that can be done can include a nasopharyngeal swab, which is done by taking a sample of mucus through the nose to analyze the presence of B. pertussis bacteria.
Complications of Whooping Cough
Whooping cough that is not treated immediately can cause complications.
However, the complications experienced by whooping cough sufferers can vary depending on age.
In babies, especially those under 6 months old, life-threatening complications can occur, such as:
- Pneumonia.
- Stop breathing.
- Dehydration.
- Seizures.
- Brain damage.
Meanwhile, in adolescents and adults, whooping cough can cause complications in the form of:
- Bruised or cracked ribs.
- Abdominal hernia.
- Rupture of blood vessels in the skin or white of the eye.
Whooping Cough Treatment
Whooping cough cannot be treated using ordinary cough medicines sold on the market.
Treatment can also vary depending on the age and severity of symptoms. Here are the types of whooping cough treatment according to age:
1. Babies and children
In infants and children, they need to be placed in an isolation room to avoid the spread of infection.
The main treatment given is antibiotics to fight the bacteria that cause infection.
The medication can be given intravenously or directly. An oxygen mask may also be given to help the sufferer breathe.
Infants and children with severe whooping cough are at risk of developing lung damage.
Therefore, special treatment in the hospital will concentrate on the use of breathing aids (ventilation) and the administration of drugs to control their blood pressure with drugs.
In more severe cases, doctors can perform Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).
This procedure is done by flowing oxygen directly into the body without passing through the lungs.
This procedure will be given if other techniques are not successful and the lungs have been damaged quite badly.
2. Teenagers and adults
In adolescents and adults, whooping cough can usually be treated at home.
The doctor will prescribe medication that can prevent the growth of bacteria.
Some care steps that can be done at home are:
- Take medication to reduce fever and sore throat symptoms.
- To prevent dehydration, sufferers are advised to drink plenty of water.
- Get rid of all mucus or vomit when coughing to avoid choking or re-inhaling it.
- Get plenty of rest.
Whooping Cough Prevention
The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated against pertussis. This vaccine is usually given along with diphtheria, tetanus, polio (DPT), and Hib vaccines.
Pregnant women also need to get pertussis vaccination to prevent pertussis infection in babies in the first weeks after birth.
Pertussis vaccination will be offered to all pregnant women when they reach 28-38 weeks of pregnancy.
In addition to pregnant women and infants, additional pertussis vaccination ( booster ) needs to be given because its protective function tends to weaken over time.
This additional vaccination can be given when:
- Pertussis vaccine immunity begins to weaken, namely when someone is 11 years old. Therefore, 11-year-old children need to get a pertussis vaccination booster.
- Some types of tetanus and diphtheria vaccines that are given periodically every 10 years also have a function to protect against whooping cough. This type of vaccine also reduces the risk of transmitting whooping cough to babies.