Complications
Among the most common complications are bronchitis and pneumonia, although these are caused by other pathogens. Other possible complications are:
- Otitis media
- Lung damage (burst pulmonary alveoli)
- SeizuresEpilepsy
Causes
Whooping cough is caused by bacteria called Bordatella pertussis. The bacteria multiply exclusively on the surface of the airways. The pathogen itself and the toxins it releases cause damage to this surface.
More precisely, the so-called ciliated epithelium is damaged. The ciliated epithelium normally serves to transport foreign bodies (e.g. dust) out of the body. This happens particularly effectively when coughing.
The fine hairs always beat in the direction in which the dirt should be carried, i.e. outwards. The bacteria are transmitted by droplet infection, for example when coughing or sneezing. The transmission only occurs from person to person. In about 70 percent of cases, the disease then breaks out. Small children are most at risk.
Diagnosis
If the disease is already in the second stage, the diagnosis is easy to make based on the coughing fits.If necessary, the bacteria can be detected by means of a throat swab (e.g. of the nasal mucosa). Antibodies formed by the body against the pathogens can only be detected in the blood 2 – 4 weeks after the onset of the disease.
Therapy
Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics, which interrupts the infection. The complications also occur less frequently under antibiotics. Infants in the stage characterized by coughing attacks should be observed and treated in hospital.
Preparations that satisfy coughs or dissolve phlegm do not help here. The infection with whooping cough usually heals without consequences, but the pauses in breathing forced by the cough and the lack of oxygen during and after the coughing attacks are dangerous. These can be fatal, especially for babies. This is the reason why children with an acute pertussis infection should be admitted to hospital. In this way, breathing difficulties can be detected early and treated early.
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