Is whooping cough very harmful?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on December 02, 2024
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Pertussis belongs to infectious diseases and certainly poses some risk to health, with the degree of harm varying greatly from person to person. Typical symptoms include paroxysmal, barking coughs, fever, and runny nose. Some may also exhibit cyanosis (bluish hue to lips) and signs of hypoxia. Coughing can also lead to runny nose, teary eyes, and even convulsions, nausea, and vomiting. Some patients may present with an inspiratory crowing sound. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory measures based on the number of infectious pathogens and specific symptoms, and isolation precautions should be taken to prevent the infection from spreading to other children.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Why is whooping cough milder during the day and worse at night?

Whooping cough is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis infection, commonly seen in children. The main symptoms are paroxysmal spasmodic coughing, a crowing inspiratory noise, with coughing occurring both during the day and at night, more significantly at night. The main reasons are as follows: first, the dry indoor air causes irritation. Second, during the night, the mucus secreted by the bronchial mucosa cannot be expelled from the body, which stimulates the bronchial nerves and triggers worsening cough symptoms. Coughing can also cause redness of the face and ears, runny nose, nausea, and vomiting.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Can you still get whooping cough even if you have been vaccinated?

If the whooping cough vaccine is administered effectively and antibodies are produced, it generally prevents reinfection. However, if the vaccine is not administered according to the prescribed schedule, or if no antibodies are produced after the vaccination, exposure to this pathogen may still lead to infection. The disease is characterized by fits of coughing, which can cause blushing, runny nose, tears, nausea, and vomiting. Some children may also experience a barking cough and a crowing sound during inhalation.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How long is the incubation period for whooping cough?

Once the body is infected with the bacterium that causes whooping cough, the incubation period of this disease is about one to two weeks. The contagion is strongest within two to three weeks after becoming ill. This disease is a respiratory infectious disease, mainly transmitted through airborne droplets, with children under five being the most susceptible to infection. Clinically, vaccination is primarily used to prevent the occurrence of the disease. Once infected, symptomatic treatment is needed, and one can also choose macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and erythromycin, for treatment.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Can whooping cough be treated with Chinese medicine?

Whooping cough is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis or Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment is also an option. There are many commonly used traditional Chinese medicine formulas, such as Pediatric Whooping Cough Powder, Qingfei Zhike San, Feier Wan, Huachong Wan, Bai Ji Granules, Zuo Jin Wan, etc., which all have certain effects and efficacy in treating whooping cough. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that whooping cough is caused by pathogenic factors attacking the lung defense, reduced function of the lung's descending and clearing action, and cough symptoms due to qi moving in the wrong direction.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What are the symptoms of pertussis encephalopathy?

Pertussis encephalopathy typically presents with persistent high fever, projectile vomiting, nausea, and severe headaches, which are indicators of increased intracranial pressure. It is necessary to conduct timely auxiliary examinations such as cerebrospinal fluid tests and cranial MRI for diagnosis. In conjunction with clinical symptoms, medications to alleviate cerebral edema and reduce intracranial pressure should be chosen for symptomatic treatment. Typically, corticosteroids are needed during the acute phase, along with mannitol, sedatives, and other symptomatic treatments. Additionally, antibiotics should be used to eliminate the Bordetella pertussis bacterium, the pathogen responsible for the condition.