What is whooping cough? Symptoms and treatment of the disease

An acute infectious disease, which is classified as anthroponosis, transmitted by air, caused by a specific rod, is called whooping cough. Symptoms of this disease are manifested by painful attacks of dry cough. The disease affects people of any age, but it is especially common in children, so this illness is attributed to childhood infections.

Cause of illness

As already mentioned above, whooping cough causes a gram-negative small rod, which is unstable to the influence of environmental factors. The causative agent penetrates the body through the respiratory tract, where it penetrates into the mucous membrane, and the toxin, which is formed as a result of its vital activity, causes pertussis. Symptoms that develop as a result of the action of the toxin are due to its irritating effect on the respiratory tract and nervous system. There is a spastic component that causes a spasm of the diaphragm and the muscles involved in breathing. Severe course of the disease can lead to severe oxygen starvation, especially in childhood. Not the least role in the course of the disease is an allergic predisposition, which can affect the severity of the disease.

How pertussis behaves in adults, the symptoms of the disease

On the asymptomatic period of the disease it takes about one to two weeks, after which there is a slight malaise, the temperature rises to a subfebrile condition and cough begins, which gradually increases in intensity and duration. This period of the disease is called catarrhal, it lasts up to ten days. Next, a spastic component is attached, which leads to an increase in cough. It becomes paroxysmal and painful, at the end of a series of coughing jerks, vomiting may appear. Attacks are repeated many times during the day. As a result, hemorrhages may appear on the skin of the face and sclera of the eyes. Heavy pertussis, whose symptoms are most pronounced, at the height of a coughing fit can lead to the development of clonic seizures. During this period, the number of leukocytes in the blood was significantly increased. An excruciating cough lasts for a long time, and lasts up to one month.

After the spastic period, the stage of recovery comes, or the resolution of the disease. All manifestations of the disease are gradually passing.

Isolate the erased whooping cough, the symptoms in adults at which are not so pronounced. This form of the disease can also occur in children who have been treated with pertussis vaccination.

The disease can be complicated by the development of inflammation of the lungs, atelectasis, subcutaneous emphysema and emphysema of the mediastinum.

Difficulties in diagnostics can be represented by whooping cough, the symptoms of which are erased and it can be mistaken for a viral respiratory disease. The disease is confirmed by isolating the causative agent from sputum and using immunological diagnostic methods.

Healing measures

Usually, with uncomplicated forms of the disease, the disease is treated at home. Hospitalized mainly in young children, with the development of complications and breathing problems. Antibiotic therapy with penicillin series and macrolides is carried out. The course of treatment is 10 days. Effective anti-catabased immunoglobulin, which is administered according to the scheme, for three days. In severe disease, hormone treatment is administered. A painful and paroxysmal cough is suppressed by antitussive drugs of central action and neuroleptics.

Prevention of disease

A mandatory vaccination schedule includes vaccination against pertussis. The protivokoklyushny component of the vaccine is part of the DTP, which is conducted in childhood by the scheme.

After contact with the patient, if a person has not previously been vaccinated and not sick with whooping cough, he is to be isolated and monitored for 14 days.