Diagnostics, signs and treatment of whooping cough in a child

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Despite the achievements of modern medicine, in particular the availability of vaccines, as well as effective drugs, whooping cough is still quite a dangerous disease. This childhood infection is not only widespread, but can have severe consequences.

Knowing the characteristic signs, as well as taking into account the tactics of treating whooping cough in a child, each parent can significantly alleviate the course of the disease in a child and prevent the development of dangerous complications.

Feature of the disease

To understand exactly what this disease is, you need to know what are the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment of whooping cough in children. This is an infectious disease characterized by damage to the respiratory system and bouts of severe coughing. Despite mandatory vaccination, whooping cough is very common in children under the age of 5.

Very high susceptibility to the pathogen in unvaccinated children, so they very often suffer from this disease. The patient remains contagious for the first 25 days. Although pertussis is highly contagious, it quicklyperishes in the environment.

No pronounced seasonal increase in cases of infection was detected, however, children are most often ill in the autumn-winter period. In vaccinated children whooping cough is diagnosed very rarely. The occurrence of the disease in this case is due to non-compliance with the vaccination schedule and the deterioration of immunity.

Adults vaccinated or ill in childhood can get sick only after 50 years. This is due to a gradual decrease in immune defenses. In this case, the disease is hidden and mimics the common cold.

Forms of the disease and ways of infection

In medicine, there are three forms of the course of an infectious disease, in particular:

• typical;
• atypical;
• carrier.

When a typical form occurs, the development process follows the classical pattern. The atypical form is characterized by the fact that there are no pronounced symptoms, the patient is only worried about paroxysmal cough. If a bacteriocarrier is diagnosed, the patient is a carrier of the virus, but he himself does not get sick with this infection.

Infection with whooping cough occurs only from a sick person. It is transmitted by airborne droplets. At the same time, a person is considered infectious not only at the peak of the disease, but also for 30 days after complex treatment.

Main symptoms

To conduct a comprehensive treatment of whooping cough in a child, you need to correctly diagnose the course of the disease, and for this it is important to know what the symptoms may be. From infection to onsetThe first signs of the disease take about 5-7 days. However, this period can continue for up to 3 weeks. The whooping cough bacterium infects the bronchi and bronchioles. In this case, the trachea, larynx and nasopharynx are less prone to inflammation.

At the same time, pathogens secrete toxins that activate cough. As a result, characteristic symptoms appear. Whooping cough goes through several stages in its development.

At the initial stage, the symptoms are similar to those of the common cold. The child develops sneezing, runny nose, slight fever, cough and sore throat. A characteristic feature is that in the treatment of whooping cough in a child, cough is not stopped by antitussive drugs.

The paroxysmal period starts around the 3rd week. At this time, the multiplication of bacteria provokes a significant increase in coughing. Attacks become very painful, a spasmodic cough is clearly visible, a wheezing noise on inspiration, which leads to the discharge of viscous sputum.

Seizures last for 3-4 minutes and often occur at night or early in the morning. In this case, the symptoms may be accompanied by convulsions, vomiting, respiratory arrest. Against the background of normal temperature, the child's well-being worsens significantly, tearfulness and irritability appear. In addition, there may be a slight hemorrhage on the skin, as well as the conjunctiva.

If a high temperature is observed during this period, then this indicates the accession of streptococcus orstaphylococcus. The duration of the paroxysmal period is 3-4 weeks.

Slowly, symptoms begin to subside and disappear completely as antibodies are produced to eliminate pathogens and cough.

Diagnostics

Before you start treating whooping cough in a child, you need to conduct a comprehensive diagnosis that will determine the course of the disease. For more accurate diagnosis, methods such as:

• general examination of the patient;
• examination of clinical data;
• listening to the bronchi and lungs;
• chest x-ray;
• urine and blood test;
• other laboratory tests.

The main diagnostic method is bacteriological, which allows to determine the causative agent of the disease. In the catarrhal period, it is very difficult to recognize the course of the disease. Usually, the diagnosis is made based on the data of the survey of the patient who was in contact with the patient.

The causative agent of whooping cough is isolated by taking a smear from the oropharynx and then inoculating the resulting material on a nutrient medium in the laboratory. If the result is negative, serological research methods can be used. To do this, antibodies to the whooping cough pathogen and its toxins are detected in the venous blood.

The method of therapy is selected after the diagnosis and determination of the stage of development of the disease. The doctor selects an individual course of treatment for each patient. Only strictfollowing all the doctor's prescriptions will help to achieve a good result.

Feature of treatment

Therapy is often done at home. A stay in a hospital is required only if the patient is in a serious condition and the child is under 3 months old. Treatment standards for whooping cough in children include:

• use of antibiotics;
• antitussives;
• observance of the daily routine;
• folk methods.

In addition, as additional procedures, you can use methods such as:

• breathing exercises;
• physiotherapy;
• massage.

Together with the use of special preparations, alternative treatment for whooping cough in children is also shown, since these methods are completely safe, but at the same time help to eliminate the existing symptoms quickly and efficiently.

Medicated treatment

For the treatment of a child with whooping cough, mainly antibacterial drugs are used to cleanse the body of bacteria. In addition, appointed:

• bronchodilators;
• antipyretic;
• cough suppressants;
• glucocorticoids;
• immunoglobulin;
• neuroleptics;
• anticonvulsant.

Antibacterial drugs for the treatment of whooping cough in children are selected purely individually, depending on the sensitivity of the infection. Basically, the doctor prescribes Levomycetin, Ampicillin, macrolides and aminoglycosides. The course of therapy is approximately 5-7 days. At the start of treatment, enterspecial gamma globulin.

In addition, depending on the symptoms of whooping cough in children 2 years old, the treatment is additionally symptomatic. First of all, antihistamines are prescribed, which help eliminate swelling of the larynx and reduce the intensity of coughing. In especially severe cases, the use of antispasmodics is required.

When a runny nose and nasal congestion appear, vasoconstrictor drops should be used, and antipyretics should be used to reduce the temperature. Antitussive drugs are not prescribed, as they are aimed at removing sputum, which means that they further stimulate the coughing fit. In addition, the use of special vitamin complexes is shown to help stimulate the immune system.

Daily routine and nutrition

It is important not only to use special preparations and folk methods for treating whooping cough in children, but also to observe the daily routine, as well as organize proper nutrition for the baby. The child should be in a well-ventilated, but at the same time protected from drafts room. Wet cleaning should be carried out at least 2 times a day. A sick child must be carefully protected from hypothermia, overheating, and contact with infected people. Weakened by whooping cough, the baby's body becomes very susceptible to various kinds of diseases.

It is important to ensure complete rest, make sure that the baby does not overwork, and also rest more. It is necessary to exclude all irritating factors. Crying, stress, and mood swings can trigger a coughing fit, worseningchild's well-being.

An important condition for a successful recovery are walks in the fresh air. In addition, it is important to follow a certain diet. The nutrition of a sick child should be complete, so you need to reduce the amount of portions and increase the frequency of feeding. You should not eat solid food, as it will irritate the back of the throat and provoke a coughing fit. During the course of the disease, the child should drink plenty of water.

Application of folk methods

Folk treatments for whooping cough in children give a good result only in combination with conservative treatment. There are certain fees and plants that help to significantly reduce spasm, making the attacks much easier.

When using alternative treatment for whooping cough in children, you should first consult with your doctor about the use of certain drugs. The arnica plant helps to stop a dry, barking cough. In addition, it eliminates excitement and spasm. This requires 1 tbsp. l. dry grass pour 1 tbsp. boiling water and leave to infuse for 2 hours. It is best to take it at night, as it is during this period that more seizures are observed.

Treatment of whooping cough with folk remedies in children reviews are quite good, the most important thing is to prepare and apply them correctly. To prepare the medicinal collection, you need to take in equal proportions such herbs as:

• oregano grass;
• plantain leaves;
• marshmallow flowers;
• thyme;
• nettle;
• pine buds;
• coltsfoot.

You need to take 3 tbsp. l. herbal collection and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Then insist at least 6 hours. Take 1 tbsp. l. every 3 hours. Active ingredients soothe the mucous membrane of the larynx, relieve swelling and help reduce spasm. The treatment of whooping cough with homeopathy in children is widely used, since this remedy has practically no contraindications, however, such a medicine must be taken strictly under the supervision of a doctor and in compliance with the dosage.

How to stop a coughing fit

If a child has a coughing fit at night, you can give him warm water to drink to soothe the inflamed mucosa. It is important to take antihistamines to help prevent swelling. With a strong attack of coughing, inhalation can be carried out using a nebulizer. In addition, steam inhalations can be carried out.

A s alt lamp might be helpful. It is covered with a ceiling made of mineral s alt, which, when heated, begins to release ions that purify the air. If the child is small, then with a fit of coughing, you need to call an ambulance.

Prognosis after treatment

Prognosis after treatment depends largely on the symptoms and treatment of whooping cough in children. Feedback from parents is mostly positive. After the therapy, the child develops strong immunity, and the re-development of the disease is almost impossible. However, coughing fits may continue for several months after recovery.

Remotesymptoms can be observed up to about six months, but this often occurs against the background of the course of respiratory diseases.

Illness in young children

Treatment of whooping cough in infants is carried out mainly in a hospital, as their disease is severe, and the incubation period is shorter. The catarrhal stage very quickly passes into a paroxysmal protracted period.

The classic coughing fit may not happen. Instead, there is a constant cry, anxiety, sneezing. The child tries to assume the fetal position. There may be respiratory arrest during an attack or between them. This condition is especially dangerous in a dream. Babies have a very high risk of complications.

Possible Complications

Whooping cough is especially severe in children under 6 months, and mild forms of the disease do not occur before 3 months. That is why there is a high risk of death. Among the main complications, it is necessary to highlight such as:

• breathing stops;
• convulsions;
• ruptured lung;
• encephalopathy;
• bronchitis;
• bronchopneumonia;
• hernia;
• ruptured eardrum.

Acute respiratory diseases have a very bad effect on the course of whooping cough, provoking bronchopulmonary complications.

Prophylaxis

The only way to guarantee protection against whooping cough is to get vaccinated. It's completely free. It is necessary to make 3 such vaccinations with an interval of 3 months, and revaccination should beheld at 18 months of age.

If an infection with whooping cough has occurred, then such a patient must be urgently isolated for 30 days. The children's team is quarantined for 2 weeks from the date of isolation of the sick child.

It is worth remembering that whooping cough in a child is quite difficult, especially for children of the first year of life. That is why it is important to recognize the existing symptoms in a timely manner and treat them.