Treatment methods for pertussis

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 27, 2024
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For the treatment of whooping cough, the first step should be to drink plenty of water and maintain a suitable indoor temperature and humidity. In terms of medication, it is necessary to choose macrolide antibiotics and adhere to an inflammatory treatment course. Clinically common drugs include erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, etc., and generally, medication is required for at least about ten days. At the same time, it is recommended to use antitussive and expectorant drugs. If there are symptoms of breathing difficulty, oxygen inhalation can also be administered. There are many expectorant drugs clinically available, such as carbocisteine or She Dan Chuan Bei liquid, ambroxol oral solution, etc., all of which can serve the function of suppressing coughs and expelling phlegm.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Is whooping cough without the crowing sound getting better?

Pertussis without a crowing sound indicates recovery. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, commonly seen in children. The progression of pertussis can be divided into three stages: The first stage is the catarrhal stage, also known as the pre-paroxysmal stage. At the early stage, the child shows symptoms similar to the common cold, followed by worsening cough. If the condition is not effectively controlled during this stage, It then progresses to the second stage, the paroxysmal stage. During the paroxysmal stage, the child exhibits characteristic episodic spasmodic coughing and crowing inhalation sounds. This period can last up to two months. Finally, it moves into the recovery stage. In the recovery stage, the frequency and severity of the episodic spasmodic cough and crowing inhalation sounds gradually alleviate. Thus, the absence of a crowing sound in whooping cough is an indication of approaching recovery.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Symptoms and Treatment of Whooping Cough in Children

The common symptoms of whooping cough are coughing, prolonged coughing, and spasmodic coughing, which ends with a crowing sound, and it mainly occurs during the night. The face may turn bright red during coughing, which is a typical symptom of whooping cough. For treatment, in the early stages of whooping cough, erythromycin is definitely used and can be effective. However, in pediatrics, if the whooping cough has lasted for a long time, the effectiveness of the treatment is relatively not as good. If the coughing period is long and medication is used in the middle to late stages, even with some treatment, it might still continue for two to three months. Although treatments like cough suppressants and expectorants can alleviate the symptoms, a cough usually still persists to some degree.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Is whooping cough easy to treat?

Whooping cough is treatable. This disease is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection common in children. Its main characteristics are paroxysmal, spasmodic coughing. Some children may also have a bark-like cough and a crowing sound during inhalation. It is important to correctly identify and check the pathogen, which could be due to infection by the diphtheria bacillus or the whooping cough bacillus. Typically, it can be treated with intravenous macrolide antibiotics or penicillin antibiotics to eliminate the pathogen, along with symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Whooping cough belongs to which type of infectious disease?

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the infection of Bordetella pertussis. It is categorized as a Class B infectious disease according to national regulations. Bordetella pertussis has weak resistance to external environments and is generally not considered to spread through indirect contact. The primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets. Asymptomatic infected children are the main transmitters of the disease. Children under the age of five are the most susceptible. Babies typically receive their primary immunization at the ages of 3, 4, and 5 months, a booster immunization at 18-24 months, and another booster at the age of 6.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Treatment methods for pertussis in children

The treatment methods for pertussis in children mainly involve anti-inflammatory processes, along with etiological treatment. Pertussis in children typically requires the selection of antimicrobial drugs to eradicate Bordetella pertussis. Clinically, macrolide antibiotics are primarily chosen, such as erythromycin, azithromycin, or clarithromycin. Also, depending on the nature of the cough, some central antitussive agents or cough and phlegm relieving drugs can be used to alleviate the symptoms of cough. Additionally, in the acute phase of inflammation where fever is present, antipyretic analgesics should be taken for symptomatic treatment. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a doctor.)