Health

Even in our country where the vaccine was previously commonly practiced and now mandatory, whooping cough still exists. It is no longer just a "childhood disease", it is transmitted to adults.

WHAT IS WHOOPING COUGH?

Whooping cough is a highly contagious infection caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis). The coughing fits of whooping cough are characteristically long with, at the end of the fit, a noise reminiscent of "rooster crowing". The fits may be accompanied by feelings of respiratory blockage or vomiting. The cough can last 3 months.

IS IT SERIOUS?

Most of the time, whooping cough is impressive, but it is not serious, except in certain special cases: in babies, especially infants under 3 months, the elderly or frail, pregnant women.

WHEN DO THE FIRST SIGNS APPEAR?

The time between the time the person is infected and the onset of the attacks is approximately three weeks.

WHAT TESTS SHOULD BE DONE?

A medical consultation is usually sufficient, but biological tests can confirm the diagnosis. Blood tests exist, but are mainly useful for research and monitoring epidemics.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?

Since it is a disease caused by bacteria, the treatment is antibiotics. Often, it has no influence on the attacks, but it is mainly prescribed to limit the contagiousness of the patient and those around them. Regardless of their age, people close to the patient can also take antibiotics.

CAN I PROTECT MY CHILDREN WITH A VACCINE?

Mandatory vaccination is carried out at the same time as tetanus, diphtheria, polio and Haemophilus: DTP-polio-H. One injection at 2, 4 and 11 months. Boosters at 6 years and 11-13 years. A booster at 25 then 45 years, and every 10 years from 65 years. Vaccination is recommended for those around infants, if the last whooping cough booster was more than ten years ago.

CAN YOU GET WHOOPING COUGH WHILE BEING VACCINATED?

The antibodies, which are produced by the body after whooping cough or after vaccination against whooping cough, are not completely protective. This is why you can get whooping cough even if you have been vaccinated. However, the more recent the vaccination, the less severe the attacks will be.
Whooping cough remains a disease of children and adults. Vaccination is effective in limiting the spread of the disease and protecting newborns who have not yet been vaccinated.