Whooping cough: how dangerous it is and how to get vaccinated

In Russia, the incidence of whooping cough has increased significantly. According to surveys by the professional service Doctor’s Directory, about a quarter of medical workers consider the situation in their region to be tense. How whooping cough manifests itself and is treated is in the Kommersant certificate.

Whooping cough (or spasmodic cough) is considered a highly contagious disease that is caused by Bordetella pertussis and is transmitted by airborne droplets. The incubation period for whooping cough is most often nine to ten days, but in some cases it can range from six to twenty days.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough

During whooping cough outbreaks, anyone who has a cough for more than two weeks is suspected. The following manifestations are considered symptoms:

attacks of severe coughing (paroxysms);

spasms or convulsions when inhaling;

post-cough or unmotivated vomiting;

· cessation of breathing (apnea);

cyanosis before coughing (cyanosis).

In mild cases of the disease, about ten attacks of convulsive cough occur per day, in severe cases – at least 25 attacks. Symptoms are most severe in the second or third week of the disease. Asymptomatic or clinically mild infections also occur, particularly among previously vaccinated adults.

A case of whooping cough is considered confirmed only after laboratory testing or a close relationship with an infected person has been identified (in the absence of vaccination, the probability of becoming infected from a family member is 90%). According to the World Health Organization, ideally two nasopharyngeal swabs will be needed: one for culture, one for PCR.

How and to whom is whooping cough dangerous?

At risk are infants who have not reached vaccination age, unvaccinated children and patients with chronic diseases of the respiratory system. The infectiousness index among children during the first year of life is up to 100%.

The most common complication of whooping cough is pneumonia. According to the Russian Ministry of Health, whooping cough sometimes causes seizures, hematological and immunological changes (for example, leukocytosis and allergies). Possible brain damage and death.

How is whooping cough treated?

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, macrolide antibiotics prevent or mitigate the clinical manifestations of whooping cough if these drugs are started during the incubation period and at an early stage of the disease.

If a patient notices symptoms of whooping cough later and starts taking antimicrobial medications after the seizures begin (sometimes lasting up to two months), such medications are likely to have no effect on their condition, but the risk of spreading the infection will be reduced. In particular, the World Health Organization recommends that patients suspected of having whooping cough avoid contact with children and women in late pregnancy until a five-day course of antibiotic treatment has been completed. As a rule, an infected person ceases to be infectious by the 25th day from the onset of the disease.

When to get vaccinated against whooping cough

The most effective measure to prevent whooping cough is immunization. When in direct contact with sick people, it is also recommended to wear masks.

The national calendar of preventive vaccinations recommends vaccination (from three months three times) and revaccination (at 18 months once). The most commonly used vaccine is DTP (whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus). The World Health Organization recommends vaccinating all infants with three doses of pertussis vaccine, followed by one booster dose for children aged one to six years.

Contraindications to vaccination against whooping cough include progressive diseases of the nervous system, a history of seizures, etc. The reaction of a healthy child can manifest itself in the form of soft tissue swelling, high fever, loss of appetite, drowsiness and irritability.

According to reports from regional divisions of Rospotrebnadzor, in 1904 and 1913, whooping cough ranked third in prevalence among childhood infectious diseases in the Russian Empire (the list includes measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough and diphtheria). Mortality among children under five years of age reached 30%. Mass vaccination against whooping cough has been carried out since 1955–1956. Its goal is to reduce the risk of severe illness among infants and young children.

According to the Russian Ministry of Health, about 95% of children in the first year of life are now vaccinated against whooping cough within the country. Around the world, about 84% (110 million) of infants received three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP-3) in 2022, according to experts from the World Health Organization.