The paroxysms of cough that occur in pertussis are so distressing that the mother has to be up much of the night keeping the child from choking, and cleaning up when it vomits. The younger the child the harder it is for both mother and child.
This disease is caused by bacterium called H. Pertussis. It gets into the respiratory system and causes oedema and ulcers from the throat down to the lungs. The condition begins with what seems to be a bad cold which persist and becomes worse till the child has paroxysms followed by vomiting. The characteristic sign of this disease is whoop from which it gets the name whooping cough.
CONTAGIOUS: Whooping cough is very contagious. Every time the child coughs it spread the germs far and wide. This continues for a full month and it would be wise for the parent to avoid contact with other children until six weeks have passed.
PREVENTION: The only way to keep the children from contacting whooping cough is to have him vaccinated against the disease in time. Three injections are given one month apart. This is a fairly sure method of preventing the disease. The only exception to this is that some children do not develop immunity well and an overwhelming exposure may be too much for them. The immunity from each vaccination during the first decade of life lasts for about two to three years. The injection can be given along with that of diphtheria and tetanus and should be repeated every two or three years.
TREATMENT: Terramycin and auromycin are the antibiotics of choice. Chloramphenicol is not recommended. A little sedation can be administered by giving from one-fourth to one teaspoonful of elixir of phenobarbital two or three times a day. A cough syrup containing a teaspoonful of a protein digestant to digest the mucus the child swallows and may lessen and often prevent troublesome vomiting. When vomiting occurs and child loses his food, feed him again. It is best to small quantities of food at frequent intervals till the vomiting subsides.
