Causes and risk factors
Whooping cough is highly contagious diseases and easily spreads from person to person. It is caused by bordetella pertussis bacteria. Infection spreads by inhalation of the contaminated droplets in air through nose or mouth. Babies are more prone for getting the infection on coming in contact with the infected parents or caretakers or siblings.
Clinical presentation:
The complaints come up 7-10 days after the infection however it can take 21 days also for the symptoms to come up. The parents often comes complaining that the child is suffering from fever, cold and Coryza. Running of nose is seen. Initially the cough is mild but in later stages it becomes severe. The cough is dry hacking cough which ends into high pitched intensity “whoop”After every bout of cough vomiting can occur. A typical whooping sound can be heard when the child coughs. Sneezing along with difficulty in breathing is seen. The child becomes irritable and inconsolable cry along with dullness and drowsiness can be seen. The diseases can pose risk to life in cases of small babies before the age of 6 months. Pertussis can lead to complications like hemorrhages, apnea, pneumonia, inflammation of brain and convulsions.
Investigations:
Diagnosis is done of the basis of the symptoms narrated by the patient and by examination carried out by the doctor. As the disease in the initially stage mimic flu like symptoms often difficulty is seen in diagnosing the condition in early stages. Certain investigations like routine blood test, chest X-ray and culture examination of the discharges from nose and cough are carried out for confirming the diagnosis.
Treatment:
As the infection is contagious and can pose risk to life to an infant hospitalization and proper care is needed. Antibiotics are administered for combating the infection. In severe cases mechanical ventilation and other supportive care is started. Vaccination against whooping cough is the best preventive measure. Vaccination during pregnancy against pertussis is must.
Other Modes of treatment:
Certain other modes of treatment can also be helpful in coping up the symptom. Taking into consideration the symptoms in holistic way, homoeopathy can offer a good aid for the relief of the symptoms. The Ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbs and synthetic derivates can also be beneficial in combating the complaints.
