Sinusitis

Symptoms of whooping cough in children 3 years old treatment. How to treat whooping cough in children at home

Just a week ago the baby was sick. He was tormented by periodic fevers, runny nose, and cough. Today he feels much better, but one “but” continues to bother his mother. Why did the cough, instead of going away, instead get worse? This is how whooping cough begins in a child.

A dangerous infectious disease that can be fatal. Let's talk about methods of treating the disease and preventive measures that will help protect both the baby and yourself.

The causative agent of the disease

Whooping cough disease in children is caused by the whooping cough bacillus. It is a non-motile gram-negative microbe that produces agglutinins.

Pertussis bacillus is very unstable in environmental conditions. That is why, when collecting samples, its seeding should be done immediately after collecting the material. The microbe is sensitive to the effects of almost all disinfecting solutions, ultraviolet radiation, and many groups of antibiotics (chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, streptomycin).

Whooping cough is not geographically limited to any specific countries. It is widespread throughout the world. At the same time, the incidence is much higher in those countries where children are not vaccinated. Whooping cough can cause the death of a baby. This happens in approximately 0.6% of cases of the total number of cases. Children under 2 years of age are at greatest risk.

Development mechanism

The microbe enters the body through the mucous membranes and transmits impulses through the nervous system to the brain. As a result of irritation, attacks of spasmodic, convulsive, suffocating cough occur.

Unlike many other infectious diseases, immunity to whooping cough is not transmitted in utero or through breast milk from mother to child. Therefore, the risk of infection exists even in a newborn baby.

After suffering from the disease, a strong immunity is developed to the pathogen, which will be completely lost after 12 years.

Clinical manifestations

Signs of whooping cough in a child will depend on various factors, ranging from the activity of the pathogen to the age or state of the baby’s immune system. The most vulnerable to the disease are children who are less than 3 months old, since they cannot begin vaccination against whooping cough before this age.

From the moment the microbe enters the body until the first symptoms appear, it usually takes about a week. Although in some cases the incubation period can last up to 20 days.

There are three stages of the disease: catarrhal, paroxysmal and recovery. It is worth paying special attention to each of them.

Catarrhal stage

Its duration is about 1-2 weeks. At this stage, it is impossible to tell that the child has whooping cough. All signs of the disease during the catarrhal stage are similar to the common cold:

slight increase in temperature;
runny nose;
tearfulness;
weak cough.

It is possible to suspect a whooping cough bacillus infection only if the child’s parents report his contact with the patient in the last 2-3 weeks.

Paroxysmal stage

The average duration of this stage is between 2-4 weeks. The only exceptions are unvaccinated and children under one year old, for whom it can last up to 2-3 months.

By the end of the previous stage, the main symptom of whooping cough in children (cough) began to decline. Now it is intensifying again, the attacks are becoming more frequent and intense. Any experienced pediatrician will identify whooping cough in a child as soon as he hears a characteristic cough. It can be described as follows:

During one exhalation, a series of 5-10 strong cough impulses is repeated.
Sudden and intense inhalation, which is accompanied by a whistling sound (reprise).

During the next coughing attack, the child’s face becomes red or even bluish. The veins in his neck bulge, his eyes bulge, his tongue hangs out. The attacks may follow one after another until the baby coughs up a small lump of viscous mucus that is blocking the airways. There are frequent cases of vomiting due to a strong cough.

Such attacks are very dangerous for children under 1 year of age. In such babies they can even lead to respiratory arrest (apnea).

Whooping cough in children (the photo above shows a sick baby) is also accompanied by worsening sleep, loss of appetite, and weight loss. The reason for this is the same debilitating cough, which not only torments, but also very frightens the baby.

Important to remember! The maximum possible temperature for whooping cough in a child is 38 degrees. If the reading on the thermometer exceeds this mark, then the baby has a completely different disease.

It often happens that pneumonia also develops during whooping cough. At the same time, it is very difficult to diagnose, and even experienced doctors do it too late. In medicine there is even a special term “silent lung” that refers to this condition.

It is during the paroxysmal stage that the risk of developing various complications is greatest.

Recovery stage

This is the final stage when the disease finally begins to go away. On average, the recovery stage lasts about 1-2 weeks. During this time, body temperature normalizes, coughing attacks occur less frequently and become less severe. Vomiting and reprises also fade away.

The only thing that will soon remain from whooping cough in children under one year of age and older is coughing, which can persist even for several months. But they are no longer dangerous for the baby and are not paroxysmal in nature. With upper respiratory tract infections, the cough may become worse.

Diagnosis of the disease

The first thing the doctor will do is to identify what symptoms are bothering the patient. But the final diagnosis can be established only after several laboratory serological tests. It can be:

Bacteriological culture from the nasopharynx. At the catarrhal stage, this method is the most informative. Its disadvantage is that you will have to wait 5-7 days for results. In the case of whooping cough, this is a fairly long period of time.
General blood analysis. If the disease is present, the ESR will be within normal limits, but the levels of lymphocytes and leukocytes will be elevated. But it is worth noting that such signs only indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body, and not directly about whooping cough.
PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The analysis is performed over several days and helps to identify the causative agent of the disease.
RNHA (indirect hemagglutination reaction) and RPHA (direct hemagglutination reaction). The study helps to identify antibodies to the causative agent of the disease. A negative result indicates the absence of whooping cough. Positive - confirms the diagnosis.
ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Detects specific antibodies and their quantity. Just as in the previous version, the presence of the disease is indicated by a positive test result.

Treatment Basics

Treatment of whooping cough in children less than 2 years old is carried out only in a hospital setting. Their hospitalization is mandatory even in cases where whooping cough is suspected, but the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed. This is necessary because the disease develops much faster in young children than in adults. And with the beginning of the second stage, the first attacks of suffocation and even respiratory arrest may occur.

In all other cases, hospitalization is necessary only for moderate and severe forms of the disease, or in the presence of special indications.

If hospitalization is not necessary, the doctor will tell you how to treat whooping cough in children at home. First of all, it is important to provide the child with maximum peace. Treatment of whooping cough in children involves constant humidification and ventilation of the room. It is best if there is no bright light or loud, sharp sounds in the room.

With a mild stage of the disease, there is no need for bed rest. Rather, on the contrary, it will be useful for the child to spend more time in the fresh air. As a rule, coughing attacks begin much less frequently outdoors than indoors. Moderately active games are not prohibited. It is only important to ensure that the child does not become overtired.

There is no need to try to force feed your baby. Let him eat as much as he wants. Food should be easily digestible, but at the same time nutritious and rich in vitamins. If coughing attacks are accompanied by vomiting, then it is better to forget about the feeding schedule for a while and let him eat after the baby has cleared his throat.

Switching the child’s attention to something interesting will help reduce a coughing attack. This could be a new toy, coloring book, board game, cartoon, and so on. The main goal of parents is to provide the baby with positive emotions. It may even be possible to allow something that was previously prohibited (within reason, of course).

Drug treatment

It is immediately worth noting that there is no point in using various antitussive drugs. The use of cupping, mustard plasters and thermal procedures, which will only intensify the attack, is also contraindicated!

In this case, for children? Only a doctor will give an exact answer to this question.

If the disease was detected at the catarrhal stage, the specialist will prescribe antibiotics from the macrolide or ampicillin groups. Tetracyclines can also be used to treat older children. In this case, the shortest course and average doses are selected.

If whooping cough has progressed to the paroxysmal stage, the use of antibiotics will no longer have any effect. It is very simple to explain this phenomenon. The fact is that at this moment there are no longer bacteria in the body, and coughing attacks occur due to irritation of the cough center in the brain.

In this case, psychotropic drugs - antipsychotics - may be prescribed. Droperidol or Aminazine are usually used to treat children. It is best to take them before bed, as such remedies have a calming effect. In more severe cases, it is possible to use the tranquilizer "Relanium" (orally or intramuscularly).

For mild forms of whooping cough, the use of antiallergic drugs is effective. These can be "Pipolfen" or "Suprastin". In severe cases, they are replaced with stronger glucocorticoids. Therapy with these drugs lasts up to 7-10 days.

Additionally, physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed:

inhalation of drugs that improve blood circulation in the brain and prevent the occurrence of central nervous system hypoxia (Vinpocetine, Pentoxifylline);

inhalations to thin sputum (“Chymotrypsin”, “Chymopsin”);
vitamin therapy;
general strengthening physiotherapy;
breathing exercises;
massage.

Treatment of severe whooping cough in a hospital setting also includes oxygen therapy (oxygen saturation). If there is a suspicion of the development of complications from the central nervous system, drugs are prescribed that improve blood circulation in the brain.

Possible complications

In the absence of proper treatment, the likelihood of developing various complications increases. It can be:

laryngeal stenosis;
asphyxia;
formation of hernias;
microbial pneumonia;
convulsions;
encephalopathy;
epileptic seizures.

That is why it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, follow his recommendations and not refuse hospitalization if the situation requires it!

Disease prevention

Prevention of whooping cough in children consists of vaccination and timely revaccination. In 80% of cases this guarantees complete protection against the disease. In the remaining 20%, there is still a chance of getting sick, but in this case the illness will pass in a mild and non-life-threatening form for the baby.

The whooping cough vaccine is included in the DTP vaccine. Its contents also include components against tetanus and diphtheria. As a rule, children are vaccinated according to the schedule approved by the Ministry of Health. If there are any medical indications, the local pediatrician will create an individual schedule for the child.

Vaccination against whooping cough for children is done in 3 stages with a break of 1.5 months. It is equally important to carry out a revaccination a year later, which will “fix” the achieved result. But that is not all! DTP is not one of those vaccines that provides lifelong protection against the disease. Therefore, in the future, revaccination will need to be repeated every 10 years. And this applies not only to children, but also to adults.

Special attention should also be paid to another, not so common method of prevention - taking antibiotics. For this purpose, Erythromycin is used. It must be taken in cases where there is a high risk of infection for the baby. For example, if he had contact with a person with whooping cough.

Dr. Komarovsky, well-known in the CIS countries, also supports this method. Despite the fact that Evgeniy Olegovich usually categorically opposes the prophylactic use of antibiotics, in this case he makes an exception. The doctor is confident that taking Erythromycin even before the first symptoms of the disease appear can prevent the development of attacks. In addition, this drug is considered safe for the health of the baby, as it does not have a significant effect on the liver, intestines and other organs.

Finally, I would like to once again remind you that responsibility for the health of children lies entirely with their parents. It is the latter who decide whether the child needs to be vaccinated. Before you abandon them, it is worth considering one point. Until 1960 (it was then that the DTP vaccine was invented), whooping cough was in first place among the diseases that became the cause of child mortality. Since then, a lot has changed; the probability of death has decreased by 45 times. Does anyone really want everything to go back?

Signs of whooping cough in a child can be very different. In some cases, children suffer from the disease as if playfully and complain only of a slight cough. They rarely require specific treatment, so they receive all the necessary help at home. But much more often it is impossible to get rid of whooping cough using these methods, since the disease is quite severe. Treatment with folk remedies does not have a noticeable therapeutic effect, so it is necessary to use medications in combination with a strict quarantine regime. If whooping cough develops extremely rapidly in a child and there is a real threat to life, powerful antibiotics are used. Such drugs cannot be called harmless, so treatment takes place in a hospital setting.

How to treat whooping cough in children? The answer to this question depends entirely on the stage of the disease and the severity of clinical manifestations. Consequently, if the diagnosis is finally confirmed by laboratory tests, one of the most important factors determining the treatment regimen is the symptoms of whooping cough present in a young patient. This is what we will talk about today.

Pediatricians identify three main stages in the development of the disease, each of which requires its own approach to therapy. Therefore, the approach common in domestic clinics, according to which any infectious disease or even a mild rash of unknown nature must be treated with powerful antibiotics, is fundamentally wrong.

Stages of whooping cough:

Incubation. It is almost impossible to notice the first signs of whooping cough without an in-depth examination. Children do not show any special complaints, and mild malaise is most often attributed to banal overwork.
Catarrhal. It is characterized by symptoms characteristic of many colds. Such patients are most often diagnosed with ARVI and recommended bed rest, warm drinks and paracetamol. This treatment does not bring any visible effect, so after 10-14 days, whooping cough in children smoothly passes into the second stage.
Paroxysmal. Symptoms at this stage are most pronounced, but conventional antibiotics, even the latest generation, have practically no effect on whooping cough bacillus. Most of all, patients suffer from repeated coughing attacks, which often repeat every 30-40 minutes. Noticeable relief occurs after a few weeks.
Stage of reverse development of symptoms. If treatment for whooping cough is chosen correctly, the body begins to gradually recover. Patients are bothered by a chest cough, but attacks are repeated less and less every day. The rash on the face and neck gradually disappears, and therapeutic measures most often take place in familiar home conditions. Depending on the severity of the disease and the state of immunity, this period can last from 2 to 6 weeks.
Recovery phase. In some cases, this period can last up to six months. The child feels healthy, but his immunity has not yet recovered from the illness. Any specific remedies for whooping cough are used extremely rarely, and all efforts of doctors and parents are aimed at maintaining immunity and protecting the fragile body from negative environmental factors.

Symptoms of whooping cough in children

As we have already found out, they depend on the stage of the disease. Their interpretation must be taken as responsibly as possible. The mass approach to this issue, which is often practiced in our district clinics, is far from the most correct solution. And that's why:

A medicinal method of therapy, especially if the use of potent antibiotics is expected.
Whooping cough in vaccinated children can sometimes give a similar clinical picture, but within a few days the severity of the symptoms quickly subsides. Therefore, the use of standard treatment methods in this case does not make any sense.
Prescribing any medications without analyzing the child’s medical record can lead to the most dire consequences.
Whooping cough in newborns requires a completely different approach, since the baby’s body is still completely fragile.

Attention! If for one reason or another you doubt the prescribed treatment regimen, ask for another doctor. By law, you have every right to do this.

Incubation period

There are no specific symptoms of whooping cough at this stage. Consequently, any clinical manifestations are most often absent, and a correct diagnosis can only be made after sensitive laboratory tests. If the doctor you contacted still insists on inpatient treatment, ask him to once again state his arguments. Remember that a slight malaise is most likely due to overwork or a cold, and a rare cough is due to a draft in the classroom (kindergarten, nursery) or a glass of cold juice you drank the day before.

Catarrhal period

Bordetella pertussis is already present in the body, but its activity is relatively small. Whooping cough can produce acute, pronounced symptoms in children under one year of age, but in most cases they are erased and less pronounced. The typical duration of the catarrhal stage is 1-2 weeks, although in rare cases it can last longer (especially if the child has already been vaccinated).

General condition is satisfactory.
The temperature is most often normal or low-grade (maximum 37.1-37.5 degrees).
The cough is unproductive, sometimes obsessive. As a rule, it bothers the child in the evening and at night, but no sputum discharge is observed.

Paroxysmal period

The most difficult stage for the patient and his parents. At this stage, the child requires qualified medical care, which is not always possible to receive at home. The risk of complications is extremely high, and neglect of medical recommendations can lead to the most severe consequences. Whooping cough in an infant at the paroxysmal stage is most dangerous, so it requires round-the-clock monitoring.

The cough becomes paroxysmal, and a series of painful shocks can last several minutes.
Viscous whitish sputum begins to come out.
A special, whistling breath appears (reprise).
In rare cases, coughing may cause involuntary urination or bowel movements.

Characteristic external signs of an acute attack:

protruding tongue;
a puffy, reddened face, which after an attack becomes bluish-burgundy;
blue lips;
swelling of the neck veins;
severe lacrimation;
hemorrhage in the sclera;
the appearance of small red dots all over the surface of the skin.

The general condition of the child outside (!) of an attack is usually satisfactory. If complications are absent or not very pronounced, they play with interest with their peers and do not refuse food.

Attention! During this period, with severe forms of whooping cough, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, rapid development of swelling and hemorrhage into the skin may occur.

Period of reversal of symptoms

Coughing attacks become less cyclical: now they are more likely to depend on excessive emotional or physical stress. But the emerging recovery process is extremely unstable: certain complications can arise at any time.

Normalization of body temperature.
Gradual extinction of catarrhal phenomena.
Sputum production is possible only after the attack has ended.
Dysrhythmia of breathing and rare attacks of apnea.

Laboratory test data:

lymphocytosis;
leukocytosis;
decrease in ESR indicators;
the ability to isolate the pertussis bacillus using the cough plate method;
a fourfold increase in the titer of specific antibodies during serological testing.

Recovery period

There are usually no special manifestations of whooping cough during this period. But parents should remember that even cured whooping cough in children (there are no symptoms, the state of health is satisfactory, laboratory tests are normal) leads to a decrease in immunity. Therefore, the body needs some time to fully recover. During the recovery period, the child should be protected from excessive stress, although the need for bed rest is extremely rare.

Classification depending on the severity of the disease

As we have already found out, the symptoms of whooping cough depend on the stage of the disease, as well as on the general condition of the child at the time of infection. But to prescribe adequate and effective therapy, the doctor must find out the severity of a particular case. To do this, you need to consider the following parameters:

intensity of coughing attacks;
duration and frequency of apnea attacks;
severity of hypoxia (cyanosis can be of 3 types: perioral, total or acro);
existing disorders in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
cases of vomiting during coughing;
any manifestations of encephalitis;
possible complications.

Distinctive features of the mild form of whooping cough:

satisfactory general condition;
no more than 15 coughing attacks per day;
slight swelling of the eyelids and face;
signs of pulmonary emphysema, which can only be identified with an in-depth examination;
conditions, the likelihood of manifestation of which is extremely low (isolated cases are possible): vomiting after an attack, mild cyanosis, hemorrhagic syndrome.

Distinctive features of the average form of whooping cough:

noticeable deterioration in the general condition of the small patient;
children become irritable and capricious;
from 15 to 30 attacks per day;
prolonged paroxysms;
high probability of vomiting and various hemorrhagic elements;
pale skin;
pronounced perioral cyanosis;
instrumental examination can reveal a specific shade of percussion sound, as well as wet or dry rales.

Distinctive features of severe whooping cough:

the child’s condition is extremely serious;
problems with sleep and appetite;
possible sudden weight loss;
more than 30 coughing attacks per day, accompanied by vomiting and breathing problems;
perioral or acrocyanosis;
obvious signs of damage to the cardiovascular system (dull heart sounds, enlargement of its boundaries, increased blood pressure);
the risk of developing encephalopathy, which can cause seizures, impaired consciousness and paresis.

Whooping cough in young children under one year of age

The course of their illness may differ significantly, so we considered it necessary to separate this information into a separate block. And although only a doctor should treat children, it will be useful for parents to find out what the characteristics of whooping cough are in very young patients (they are most often diagnosed with a moderate or severe form).

Periods of the disease:

incubation: short, no more than a week;
prodromal: from 4 to 7 days;
spasmodic cough: up to 2 months.

Whooping cough in children under one year of age: features and symptoms

reprises are less pronounced and occur relatively rarely;
slight secretion of sputum (babies simply swallow some of it);
unsatisfactory general condition even between attacks;
significant decrease in appetite;
development slowdown;
temporary loss of speech and motor skills;
high risk of damage to the nervous system;
slight likelihood of subconjunctival bleeding;
quiet and mild cough (most often in newborns and premature babies);
cerebrovascular accident;
apnea (up to SIDS - sudden infant death syndrome);
early nonspecific complications.

We especially note that specific antibodies to whooping cough are detected quite late: at 4-6 weeks of convulsive cough.

Whooping cough in vaccinated children

If the child has managed to receive the DTP vaccine, the symptoms in most cases will be blurred, and the risk of any complications is significantly reduced. Pediatricians also note...:

...significant reduction in the likelihood of getting sick: 4-6 times;
...decrease in incubation period: from 7 to 15 days;
...development in 86% of cases of a mild form of whooping cough;
...rare vomits and reprises;
...an extremely low probability of any hemorrhagic manifestations and swelling;
...mild course and quick recovery.

Differential diagnosis

What symptoms distinguish whooping cough from the same cold or acute respiratory viral infection? What to do if a child begins to rash and the temperature rises: give him antipyretics or go to an infectious diseases hospital? Only a doctor can accurately determine this, since some clinical manifestations can only be identified after an exhaustive examination.

Differences from colds (catarrhal period):

the cough gets worse every day and is practically untreatable with standard means;
there are no visible changes in the lungs;
other catarrhal phenomena are mild (slight runny nose, slight hyperemia of the mucous membranes);
the infectious syndrome is expressed very little or completely absent;
there are no signs of damage to other organs and systems;
characteristic changes in blood composition: lympho- and leukocytosis, decreased ESR;
laboratory tests confirm the presence of pertussis bacillus.

Differential diagnosis during the spasmodic period (possible options):

tuberculous bronchoadenitis;
mediastinal tumors;
acute tracheobronchitis;
cystic fibrosis (bronchopulmonary form);
foreign body in any part of the respiratory tract;
pneumonia.

conclusions

Whooping cough is a very dangerous and poorly predictable infectious disease, but if you follow the schedule of preventive vaccinations and promptly consult a doctor, in most cases it ends in complete recovery. However, parents should clearly understand that only a doctor should treat him.

Can whooping cough prevention prevent infection? If a child is vaccinated on time, the chance of getting sick is extremely small, so we do not recommend refusing DTP. If there are cases of illness in a school or kindergarten, it is better to refrain from visiting these institutions for a while.

Recently, more and more parents are refusing preventive vaccinations, unreasonably fearing some mythical complications. This has led to the fact that the prevalence of infectious pathologies: , and whooping cough has increased markedly.

Whooping cough, which is transmitted through the air and threatens with serious complications, poses a serious danger to children's bodies. Whooping cough in a child manifests itself as a paroxysmal cough at night, which intensifies every day. At the first manifestations of the disease the child should be taken to the doctor.

The specialist will examine the baby and prescribe a number of diagnostic measures. After receiving the research results, the doctor will prescribe effective and safe therapy. A mild form of whooping cough or a moderate form of pathology can be successfully treated on an outpatient basis, but in the first year of life should be hospitalized immediately.

As they say, you need to know the enemy by sight, and therefore every parent should know exactly how whooping cough manifests itself in a child and how to alleviate the baby’s condition.

It takes about 7 days from infection to the first manifestations of the disease. However, sometimes this period is 2-20 days.

Catarrhal– lasts 7-14 days, but if the child is vaccinated against whooping cough – about 21 days. The little patient feels well, the temperature is slightly elevated or remains normal.

The only sign of infection is a dry and persistent cough in the evenings and at night. If you give your child cough medicine, there will be no benefit from it, and it will get worse every day.

Spasmodic– the height of the disease, when the cough intensifies and becomes debilitating, paroxysmal. This period is especially dangerous for babies in the first year of life and is fraught with the development of and other complications.

Cough with whooping cough is so specific that it cannot be confused with a symptom of another disease. When exhaling, the child literally “bursts” with coughing tremors, after which you can hear a convulsive inhalation with a whistle. On exhalation - a new attack. The baby is literally suffocating and crying in fear.

Such attacks can last several minutes and often end. Some experience involuntary bowel movements or urination.

During an attack, the child’s face swells, turns red, and then becomes burgundy-bluish;
The baby sticks out his tongue strongly;
The lips turn blue and watery eyes begin;
The veins in the neck enlarge (swell);
The child is sweating a lot.

Often, after an attack, red dots form on the baby’s skin and blood vessels in the eyes burst.

This period lasts about a month, and if no complications arise, the temperature does not rise, the child remains playful and active, and the appetite does not disappear.

If we are talking about a severe form, the child experiences more than 30 attacks per day, which is why the quality of food decreases, the baby suffers from shortness of breath, interest in food disappears, the face swells and red dots appear on the face.

Resolution phase lasts 30-60 days. Slowly but surely the attacks are subsiding (the intervals between attacks increase, vomiting stops, etc.).

Video of whooping cough in children

Treatment of whooping cough in children

If you notice symptoms of whooping cough in your child, you should not search online forums in search of an answer to the question: “ How to treat whooping cough and how to alleviate the baby’s condition?».

First of all consult a doctor who will select therapy (depending on the form of the disease and the age of the patient).

Children aged 1 year are hospitalized even with a mild form of whooping cough. In this way, the attending physician will be able to monitor the child’s condition and prevent the deterioration of his health in time.

What is needed to treat childhood whooping cough?

Access to oxygen (ventilation, walks, if it is not too cold outside). Do not allow your child to run around or participate in outdoor games, as this can provoke another attack and cause infection to other children;
Dieting. All irritant products should be excluded. Give your baby warm drinks and soft food;
Drug therapy, including:

: “Sumamed” and others;
Medicines for cough and sputum removal: “Lazolvan”, “Gerbion”, etc.;
Antihistamines: “Diazolin”, etc.;
Sedatives: Motherwort, etc.

Oxygen therapy is also used in hospital settings.

To protect your child from developing whooping cough, do not neglect preventive vaccinations!

Attention! The use of any medications and dietary supplements, as well as the use of any therapeutic methods, is possible only with the permission of a doctor.

Whooping cough is a dangerous infectious disease that most often occurs in preschool children. The disease spreads by airborne droplets from a sick person to a healthy person. A carrier of whooping cough can be either a child or an adult. Parents should know the early symptoms of whooping cough in children in order to begin treatment on time and avoid dangerous complications. A child can have whooping cough at any age, but it is especially dangerous for children under six months of age, who may even stop breathing during coughing.

Description of the disease

Whooping cough disease is an infection that affects the upper respiratory organs. If whooping cough in a child under 6 months is severe, various dangerous complications may arise. This infectious disease is transmitted by airborne droplets when talking, coughing or sneezing. The causative agent is a pathogenic bacillus, which in Latin is called Bordetella pertussis; a special analysis helps to identify this microorganism. During its life, the pathogen releases a toxin into the blood, which irritates the mucous membranes of the bronchi and throat. Due to this, a sick child often experiences bouts of barking and very deep coughing. The pathogenic bacterium quickly dies outside the human body.

Infantile whooping cough is most often diagnosed in the cold season. This is explained by a general decrease in immunity at this time. The disease is transmitted only through direct contact, most often by coughing or sneezing. Once in the respiratory tract, which is lined with a special epithelium, microbes begin to actively multiply on the mucous membrane of the larynx, bronchi and lungs. It is important to quickly diagnose this infection, as the symptoms and treatment of whooping cough in children have their own characteristics.

A person does not have strong immunity to this disease; if he has had whooping cough, the antibodies remain in the body only for 5 years, after this period there is a high probability of re-infection. Prevention of whooping cough consists of routine preventive vaccinations. Even if a vaccinated person becomes infected, the disease is mild and there is almost no risk of death. Vaccinations are done in several stages, the first vaccine is administered at 3 months, after which vaccinations are repeated in the next three months, and at one and a half years of age revaccination is indicated to consolidate stable immunity against this infectious disease.

Whooping cough lasts on average from 90 to 120 days, so this disease is often called the “hundred-day cough.”

The main symptoms of whooping cough in children

The incubation period for whooping cough disease ranges from one week to a month. The most characteristic symptom of whooping cough is a hysterical and unproductive cough.. The cough usually occurs in attacks and is spasmodic in nature. Symptoms of whooping cough develop gradually in a child 2 years of age or younger and at first are very similar to a respiratory disease. Adults, completely unaware of the diagnosis, continue to take the child to kindergarten and playgrounds, but in the first two weeks of illness the baby is contagious and infects other children when he coughs.

This infectious disease is especially severe in infants. If a baby falls ill before six months, he is immediately hospitalized and treatment is carried out within the walls of a hospital. Adults rarely get whooping cough. Children under five years of age and adolescents are most often infected with whooping cough. Moreover, the disease in a newborn child is always more severe than in a baby who is 3 years old or older.

To determine in time that a child has whooping cough, you need to know the first symptoms. The first signs of whooping cough in children are very similar to the common cold, so it can be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. The main symptoms of whooping cough look like this:

the child complains of muscle pain and headache, as well as severe weakness. Parents of infants may notice that their baby is lethargic, mildly chilly, and cranky;
the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx swells and due to this a slight runny nose occurs;
the patient’s throat is red, at the same time the skin turns a little pale;
body temperature is increased, heart rate increases;
A sick child's appetite worsens and it is very difficult to feed him.

As the child's whooping cough develops, a spasmodic cough develops. It is very dry and cannot be treated with conventional medications.. You should know the characteristic signs of whooping cough and how they differ from a cold. This will help you quickly make a diagnosis and begin targeted treatment.

Temperature

The peculiarity of this infectious disease is that the body temperature rises slightly. This is already the first sign of this disease. Doctors note that the temperature very rarely rises to 38 degrees, and it never goes higher. If a child is sick, but the thermometer shows higher than 38 degrees, then this is a respiratory disease, bronchitis or pneumonia. In this case, the doctor will make an accurate diagnosis after a thorough examination of the baby.

Features of cough

Whooping cough in an infant or older child can be determined by its characteristic cough. This symptom manifests itself in full only two weeks after the first signs of the disease appear.. Coughing attacks constantly increase and gradually become frequent and quite intense. Coughing with whooping cough is especially frequent at night, it prevents the baby from sleeping and causes oxygen starvation of the brain. Each attack consists of a group of coughing shocks and a long noisy sigh. There are from 3 to 40 such attacks per day, each of which ends with the discharge of a small volume of clear liquid sputum or profuse vomiting.

Whooping cough in children under one year of age is very dangerous. In infants, such coughing attacks can lead to respiratory arrest and death.. Therefore, it is so important that young children are treated exclusively in a hospital, where experienced medical staff can provide the necessary assistance in a timely manner. Severe coughing attacks in children lead to hemorrhages on the mucous membranes. In a sick child, you may notice burst capillaries in the eyes and hematomas on the neck.

Despite the development of medicine, whooping cough is still a very dangerous disease.

Treatment of whooping cough

Whooping cough in children is an infectious disease, therefore antibacterial drugs are always prescribed during treatment. Not only a speedy recovery, but also the severity of the disease depends on how correctly the antibiotic is selected. Basically, doctors prescribe antibiotics of the penicillin group, but if a child has intolerance to this drug group, then other medications may be prescribed. Most often, it is enough to treat whooping cough with tablets. Only in severe cases or if the child starts vomiting when coughing, medications are prescribed in the form of injections.

Doctors calculate the dose of antibiotics for the treatment of whooping cough according to a standard scheme. For each kilogram of the child’s weight, take 0.05 mg of the drug. The figure obtained in the calculations is divided into 3-4 doses.

If there is no effect from taking antibiotics for two days, then treatment is adjusted with other medications.

At an early stage of the disease, pediatricians sometimes prescribe treatment with globulin. It is administered intramuscularly up to 3 times a day. In some cases, hormonal drugs are used to treat whooping cough in children; one of the most common is Pulmicort.

In a hospital setting, the use of oxygen pillows and masks is recommended, which improve oxygen supply to cells. Clinical recommendations also include intravenous injections; most often, a glucose solution or Reopolyglucin is used for this. All these measures help prevent complications in the heart muscle and lungs.

During the period of illness, which is characterized by a severe cough, the patient is prescribed drugs from the antipsychotic group. These include Atropine, Aminazine and Propazine. All these medications act not only on the frequency of coughing attacks, but also on the depth of the cough.

Clinical studies have proven that the most effective antitussive remedy for children is Sinekod syrup.

In addition, Codelac or Ambroxol may be prescribed as an antitussive drug. There is no general dosage for these medications; it is calculated based on the weight and age of the child.

Therapy must include vitamin complexes and immunomodulatory drugs. Hormones are used in the treatment of children only in exceptional cases, when the expected benefit from their use is higher than the potential risk.

Therapy at home

To make the disease easier and the child faster, it is recommended to use home treatment. Parents often resort to traditional medicine recipes, inhalations and some natural remedies.

The etiology of whooping cough has already been sufficiently studied. This disease is highly contagious, so a sick child is limited from contact with family and peers, and one person must care for the baby. If parents observe any symptoms in children that resemble whooping cough, they should consult a doctor immediately. Early treatment significantly reduces the risk of complications.

If the child is over three years old and the disease is mild, then treatment can be carried out at home. Parents must strictly follow all the instructions of the attending physician, because the success of the treatment depends on this. But you need to remember that, despite the therapy, it will not be possible to cure whooping cough earlier than after 3 months. The peculiarity of the pathogenesis of this disease is such that not a single most expensive medicine, not a single procedure can completely get rid of the disease; all this is aimed only at alleviating the patient’s condition and preventing the development of complications.

But still, parents can create certain conditions under which the baby will suffer from coughing much less often.

The child should not strain, any stress should be kept to a minimum.
It is necessary to prohibit the baby from running or jumping, although this is sometimes problematic, you need to engage the child in calmer games.
The house should be wet cleaned regularly, since dust particles entering the respiratory tract also provoke coughing attacks.
All food should be natural and nutritious. During illness, it is advisable to give the baby foods that do not require intensive chewing.
Older children should not be given chewing gum or chewy candies.
There should be a calm environment at home; you need to remember that any excessive emotions, no matter laughing or crying, can provoke a coughing attack.
The room in which the sick child is located should be ventilated frequently..
The child should spend a lot of time in the fresh air. It is advisable to take him to ponds or parks with coniferous plantations. A great option would be a walk through the forest.

You should walk with a child with whooping cough away from other children to prevent them from becoming infected.

Nutrition of a patient with whooping cough

As soon as your baby is diagnosed with whooping cough, you need to reconsider his diet. More often doctors recommend a special diet containing a lot of milk porridges and vegetable dishes. In addition, vegetable soups, as well as boiled meat and low-fat fish, restore strength well.

All food and drink should be warm, but not hot. Overheated food irritates the mucous membrane of the larynx and leads to another coughing attack. The diet of sick children should not contain the following foods:

spicy dishes that contain spices in abundance;
smoked and fatty foods;
fried foods;
confectionery products;
nuts;
crackers;
semi-finished products.

What is interesting is that coughing attacks do not develop from inflammation of the respiratory tract. The reason lies in the special signals that the brain gives. That's why The more the baby does something exciting, the less often unpleasant attacks occur.

During the period of illness, a child can be occupied with creativity. Applications, drawings and origami - all these activities will captivate the sick baby for a long time.

Folk remedies for the treatment of whooping cough

In folk medicine there are several herbal recipes that will help alleviate the course of the disease:

Decoction of marshmallow and thyme. Pour two pinches of powder from these herbs into a glass of boiling water, leave for about an hour, strain and give 2 tablespoons to the patient several times a day.
Tincture of pine buds, plantain and coltsfoot. A tablespoon of a mixture of plant materials is poured into a liter of boiling water, infused and given to the patient a teaspoon 3-4 times a day.
A decoction of elecampane root, calendula, mint, eucalyptus, plantain and pine buds. The mixture of herbs is poured with boiling water, infused and taken a tablespoon up to 3 times a day.

Although folk remedies consist only of natural raw materials and are considered absolutely safe, you should consult a doctor before taking them.

Consequences of whooping cough

Whooping cough in children is dangerous because there can be various complications after an infection:

Laryngitis worsens, which occurs with stenosis of the larynx.
Other infections are associated with pertussis bacillus due to weak immunity.
Bronchitis develops.
The functioning of the brain is disrupted.
Pneumonia begins.
Due to a hysterical cough, an umbilical or inguinal hernia develops.

It must be remembered that the only effective measure to prevent whooping cough is vaccination!

With timely vaccination, the child’s risk of getting sick will be minimal.. And even if infection does occur, the disease will be mild and will not cause complications. Vaccination in children is carried out in several stages, with mandatory revaccination at a certain period.

For high-quality and quick treatment of children, the correct diagnosis should be established in a timely manner and appropriate protective actions should be initiated. Facilitates the course of diseases - for example, whooping cough in children - by carrying out mandatory vaccinations and observing basic hygienic conditions.

What is whooping cough? Main symptoms.

Whooping cough is a specific viral disease, the main symptoms of which are severe coughing attacks. This disease is most often characteristic of children aged 1 to 5 years, although it can also occur in infants. Adolescents aged 14-16 years are also susceptible to it, since during puberty the body's immune system undergoes changes, and the effect of childhood vaccinations is no longer active.

The cause of whooping cough is considered to be the Bordet-Gengou bacterial component; the greatest peak in the spread of the disease occurs in early spring or late autumn, i.e., at a time when unstable weather conditions are observed.

The infection process is carried out exclusively by airborne droplets, since in conditions outside the body the bacterium loses its strength and dies, this eliminates the transmission of the virus through the use of shared objects and utensils.

The main symptoms of whooping cough in children are:

temperature rise to 38-39 degrees;
congestion and dry throat;
severe coughing attacks with whistling and wheezing;
when coughing, sputum is poorly produced, spasmodic attacks are often accompanied by vomiting;
Due to frequent spasms, the frenulum of the tongue becomes ulcerated, as it regularly rubs against the edge of the lower teeth.

These and other symptoms in children may indicate the development of the disease, but an accurate diagnosis can only be made through testing.

How to treat whooping cough?

Whooping cough, like any other childhood disease, should be treated exclusively under the supervision of a doctor, since the wrong concentration of medications can do more harm to a fragile body than bring benefit in the fight against the virus. If you discover one or more symptoms of a possible virus, immediately contact your local pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis.

Whooping cough is rarely treated in a hospital; in most cases, the disease proceeds without complications, so babies are treated at home. The virus can only be killed with appropriate antibiotics, so the doctor will prescribe you medications appropriate for a given age, taking into account the child’s immunity and the individual characteristics of his body.
If the baby is feeling normal, it is not at all necessary to remain in bed; the main thing is to distract the child from the illness by offering him an exciting activity - reading, drawing, or any other quiet games. The employment of brain centers suppresses intoxication of the body, so the symptoms of the disease are significantly reduced. At the same time, it is not advisable to engage in sports, since excessive activity will lead to difficulty breathing and resume coughing attacks.
If a child has whooping cough, despite taking prescribed medications, there is no need to radically change the established lifestyle, try to protect the baby from contact with other children, but do not limit his walks in the fresh air. In warm weather, it is acceptable to be outside most of the time, and in cold seasons, limit children’s walking time to 20-30 minutes.

Of course, the best option would be timely comprehensive DPT vaccinations - this is a vaccine against a number of diseases, it includes substances that prevent the development of tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria. Such vaccinations are given to infants: at the ages of 3, 4.5 and 6 months (this is the main vaccination schedule, although there are other schedules). The triple vaccine should be renewed after a year, and the last time DTP in children is carried out at the age of 6-7 years, immediately before school. The vaccine has virtually no side effects; among the negative consequences in children, sometimes there is a decrease in appetite and mood, a slight increase in temperature and a slight runny nose. All these symptoms disappear after a couple of days without the use of active medications.

How to treat whooping cough with folk remedies?

Since ancient times, to treat all infections that cause cough, folk recipes have been used, which were based on herbal preparations and did not contain additives harmful to the body. Nowadays, grandmother's methods also have considerable popularity; moreover, many children's suspensions and tablets are based on old time-tested compositions. However, before using any non-traditional remedies, you should always consult your doctor.

Nettle juice relieves swelling of the lungs, reduces the appearance of cough and promotes the rapid removal of phlegm. An adult should take a tablespoon of fresh juice three times a day; for children, the proportion is reduced by 3 times.
Will help with severe and frequent cough with whooping cough garlic infusion. You will need garlic juice or finely grated fresh garlic and melted honey, the components are taken in a 1:2 ratio. The mixture is recommended to take ¼ - ½ teaspoon (for children over 7 years old, a whole teaspoon) 2 times a day.
You can also rub your baby’s feet before bedtime. garlic mass To prepare it, you need to mix a clove of crushed garlic with 30 grams of butter, the resulting mixture should be rubbed on your heels and feet - and under woolen socks.
Anise infusion is prepared from a pinch of anise seeds, infused in a glass of boiling water for about 30-40 minutes. The strained mixture should be taken one tablespoon 2-3 times a day before bed. To add flavor, you can add a spoonful of honey.

Treatment with folk remedies gives good results in both adults and children, but herbal decoctions and infusions should be used very carefully, taking into account the likelihood of allergic reactions and other side effects.