Whooping cough is what disease? When should a child with suspected pertussis be taken to the hospital immediately?

This is an automatically translated article.

Posted by Doctor Nguyen Thi Dinh - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

1. What are the common signs of whooping cough?

The first stage of pertussis usually lasts 1-2 weeks. The disease starts slowly with manifestations such as: a small cough, runny nose or hoarseness, there may also be a persistent dry cough that increases gradually at night, while the child may have no fever or low fever.
After 1 to 2 weeks, the initial symptoms subside but the cough gets worse. Cough usually occurs at night, including 3 main signs: sudden strong cough with red or purple face, stridor when inhaling and vomiting or spitting up phlegm after coughing, coughing continuously for 5-10 hours, with once every 20 hours.
After 2 to 8 weeks, the cough begins to subside. But it can take weeks to months for the cough to go away completely.

2. When should a child suspected of having pertussis be taken to the hospital right away?

If the child has a cough accompanied by one of the following signs:
Stopping breathing, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing Convulsions Pale Cyan Vomiting a lot, unable to eat or drink, dehydration Lethargy, coma These are danger signs danger to the life of the child, so it is necessary to immediately take the child to the nearest medical facility.
Whooping cough has been prevented by the pertussis vaccine in most countries around the world. However, children and adults can still get whooping cough. Young children can get sick before they get all the vaccines they need. Older children and adults can get sick if they are not vaccinated or if they are not given a booster several years after the last dose of the vaccine.

Vinmec International General Hospital provides pertussis vaccination services, using high-quality vaccines, of clear origin, suitable for the age to be vaccinated, ensuring safety from the outset. check in, preserve until use. Before vaccination, all customers are screened before vaccination with specialist doctors to ensure the best health when vaccinated. 100% of vaccinated customers are monitored and re-evaluated before leaving. In particular, the post-vaccination monitoring room is fully equipped with emergency facilities; the team of doctors - nurses are trained in anaphylaxis emergency management to ensure timely and correct treatment when an incident occurs.
For direct advice or to schedule an appointment for vaccination at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can contact the nationwide Vinmec Health System Hotline, or register online HERE