Whooping cough or pertussis is a disease of the respiratory tract and lungs caused by a bacterial infection. This disease is highly contagious and can be life threatening, especially when it occurs in infants and children.
whooping cough (whooping cough) can be recognized by a series of loud coughs that occur continuously. Usually, this cough often begins with a characteristic long, high-pitched breath sound that sounds like "whoop". Whooping cough can make it difficult for sufferers to breathe.
Although both are characterized by a persistent cough, pertussis is different from tuberculosis (TB). In addition to being caused by different types of bacteria, tuberculosis will usually cause a cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks, night sweats, significant weight loss, and may be accompanied by coughing up blood.
Whooping Cough Symptoms
Symptoms of whooping cough generally appear 5-10 days after a bacterial infection in the respiratory tract. Furthermore, there are 3 stages of whooping cough development (whooping cough), that is:
The initial stage (phase catarrhal)
This stage lasts 1–2 weeks. At this stage, pertussis is very much like a common cold cough. Patients only experience a mild cough, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, red and watery eyes, or a low-grade fever.
Although the symptoms are mild, it is at this stage that the sufferer is most at risk of transmitting pertussis to those around him. The bacteria that cause pertussis are very easily spread through splashes of saliva, such as when someone coughs or sneezes.
Advanced stage (paroxysmal phase)
After the initial stage, people with pertussis will enter the advanced stage. This stage can last for 1–6 weeks. In this phase or stage, the symptoms experienced will be more severe. This situation can make the sufferer experience a hard cough that triggers a number of the following symptoms:
- The face looks red or purplish when coughing
- A sound appears "whoop"When I take a deep breath before coughing
- Vomiting after coughing
- Feeling very tired after coughing
- Difficulty taking breath
As the disease progresses, the duration of the cough may become longer, even more than 1 minute. The frequency is also more frequent, especially at night. However, people with whooping cough generally appear healthy other than during the coughing period.
If it occurs in infants, pertussis often does not cause coughing. However, this disorder can cause breathing to stop temporarily (apnea) and then make the baby's skin look blue due to lack of oxygen.
Recovery stage (phase convalescent)
The recovery phase can last for 2-3 weeks. At this stage, the severity and frequency of symptoms begin to gradually subside. However, coughing can recur if the patient has a respiratory infection.
In general, all of the above symptoms are milder in adults than in infants and children, especially in infants and children who have not been vaccinated against pertussis.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult you or your child to the doctor if you experience the above symptoms, especially if they occur in infants or children who have not been vaccinated against pertussis. A doctor's examination is needed so that this disorder can be treated as early as possible to prevent complications.
In addition, people who have respiratory disorders, heart disease, and obesity, are more prone to pertussis. If you fall into this group and have a cough, check with your doctor regularly to find out the cause of your cough and control your condition.
Causes of Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is caused by a bacterial infection Bordetella pertussis in the respiratory tract. This bacterial infection will cause the release of toxins and make the airways inflamed. The body responds to this by producing a lot of mucus to catch bacteria which is then expelled by coughing.
The combination of inflammation and mucus buildup can make it difficult for sufferers to breathe. Therefore, the patient must try to inhale more forcefully, which sometimes produces a squeaky sound (whoop) just before coughing.
Everyone can get whooping cough. However, the risk of developing this disease is higher in people with the following conditions:
- Infants under 12 months old or elderly
- Have not undergone or completed the pertussis vaccination
- Being in a pertussis outbreak area
- Is pregnant
- Frequent contact with pertussis sufferers
- Suffering from obesity
- Have a history of asthma
Whooping Cough Diagnosis
The doctor will ask the patient's complaints and symptoms, as well as trace the patient's medical history. Next, a thorough physical examination will be performed, including an examination of the chest to detect additional breath sounds and the use of the chest wall muscles when breathing.
Early stages of pertussis are often difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to those of the common cold. Therefore, a number of investigations need to be carried out to confirm the patient's condition. The inspection includes:
- Sampling of mucus from the nose or throat, to see if the patient's phlegm contains bacteria Bordetella pertussis.
- Blood tests, to see if there is an increase in white blood cells (leukocytes), which indicates an infection.
- Chest X-ray, to see the condition of the lungs and respiratory tract, including looking for signs of inflammation, such as infiltrates or fluid buildup.
Whooping Cough Treatment
Treatment of whooping cough aims to treat bacterial infections, relieve symptoms, and help prevent disease transmission. Treatment can be done in the following ways:
Administration of antibiotics
The use of antibiotics has a number of functions, including eradicating bacteria, reducing the potential for recurrence of whooping cough or the spread of infection to other parts of the body, and preventing transmission of this disease to other people.
Antibiotics are more effective when given in the early weeks of infection. However, antibiotics will not immediately relieve the symptoms of cough in pertussis.
Self care at home
While using antibiotics according to the doctor's instructions, patients are also advised to carry out the following independent treatments to speed up healing:
- Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.
- Eat smaller portions but more often if you frequently experience nausea or vomiting after coughing.
- Maintain cleanliness and stay away from dust or cigarette smoke.
- Use a humidifier to keep the air moist.
- Cover mouth and nose or wear a mask when coughing or sneezing.
- Diligently wash your hands with soap and running water.
Patients may take fever and pain relievers, such as paracetamol, to relieve fever or sore throat. Always use the medicine according to the directions for use. Do not combine these drugs without checking with a doctor.
It is not recommended to take cough medicine carelessly, unless recommended by a doctor. This is because taking drugs carelessly has the potential to cause side effects, especially when consumed by children aged under 4-6 years.
Hospital treatment
Hospitalization is required if whooping cough occurs in infants, children with a history of lung, heart, or nerve disease, and patients with severe pertussis. This is because these patients are more at risk for complications.
Hospitalization may include:
- Suction of mucus or phlegm from the respiratory tract
- Giving oxygen through a breathing apparatus, such as a mask or tube (nasal cannula), especially if the patient has difficulty breathing
- Placement of patients in isolation rooms to prevent the spread of disease
- Giving nutrition and fluids through an IV, especially if the patient is at risk of dehydration or difficulty swallowing food
Whooping Cough Complications
Some of the complications that can occur due to whooping cough are:
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- Nosebleeds and brain hemorrhage
- Brain damage due to lack of oxygen supply is called hypoxic encephalopathy
- Bruised or cracked ribs
- Rupture of blood vessels in the skin or eyes
- Hernia in the abdomen (abdominal hernia)
- Ear infections, such as otitis media
- Increased risk of developing lung and respiratory tract disorders in the future
Whooping Cough Prevention
The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated or immunized against pertussis. This vaccine is usually given by a doctor or midwife along with the diphtheria, tetanus, and polio vaccines (DTP vaccination).
The basic immunization schedule for DTP is at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. However, if the baby is unable to immunize on the schedule, parents are advised to bring the child to carry out immunizations.catch up) according to the schedule given by the doctor.
Children are also advised to carry out further immunizations (booster) for optimal benefits. This immunization is carried out 4 times, namely at the age of 18 months, 5 years, 10-12 years, and 18 years. Immunization booster This is recommended to be repeated every 10 years.
Pregnant women are also recommended to have a booster vaccination at 27-36 weeks of gestation. Pertussis vaccination during pregnancy can protect your baby from developing whooping cough in the early weeks after birth. In addition to vaccination, practice a clean and healthy lifestyle to boost your immune system.