Hanoi has recorded cases of whooping cough, how contagious and dangerous is the disease?

According to the representative of the Hanoi Department of Health, the first case of whooping cough in 2023 has been recorded in the city, recorded in Dan Phuong district. The patient is 1.5 months old, has symptoms of cough, pneumonia and was tested positive for whooping cough by PCR.

Whooping cough is a contagious and infectious disease that can cause serious complications and even death in some cases.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Lam, Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases, National Children's Hospital, whooping cough has signs and symptoms that are easily confused with other respiratory diseases, especially in infants and young children. Worryingly, this is an acute infectious disease that is highly contagious and has a long incubation period.

Some dangerous complications that can occur in children with whooping cough include: Severe pneumonia, a common respiratory complication, especially in infants and malnourished children; encephalitis complications with a high mortality rate... Children with whooping cough may also have complications such as: Intussusception, hernia, rectal prolapse; severe cases may experience alveolar rupture, mediastinal emphysema or pneumothorax; retinal hemorrhage, conjunctival hemorrhage, electrolyte disturbances, secondary infections with other bacteria... Therefore, early detection of signs of the disease for treatment is very important.

Accordingly, whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis that attacks the respiratory tract. The symptoms of the disease are quite typical with prolonged, severe coughing.

Whooping cough usually progresses through 3 stages: In the early stages, the child coughs for 1-2 weeks, with unclear upper respiratory tract infection symptoms such as runny nose, mild cough (mostly cough at night). At this stage, it is difficult to differentiate whooping cough because the symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of the common cold and respiratory tract infection.

In the full-blown stage (1-2 weeks later), the child begins to cough more, coughing in long, raspy bouts; after coughing bouts, the child often turns red in the face or turns purple all over due to coughing so much that there is not enough oxygen to breathe, gradually causing respiratory failure. Long, severe coughing spells make the child tired, exhausted, and lose appetite, leading to malnutrition.

In stage 3 of whooping cough, which is the recovery stage, the child's coughing fits become shorter and the coughing fits gradually decrease.

Dr. Nguyen Van Lam recommends that the effective way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated fully and on schedule with the combined vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus - DTP or the combined vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B virus and Haemophilus influenzae type b (5-in-1 vaccine).

Pregnant mothers over 20 weeks should proactively go to vaccination points to get advice on vaccination before their babies are born to give their babies early immunity.

To prevent whooping cough, parents should instruct their children to wash their hands regularly with soap; cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing; and keep their bodies, noses, and throats clean every day. It is necessary to ensure that homes, nurseries, and classrooms are well-ventilated and clean.

In particular, when a child is suspected of having the disease, it is necessary to isolate the child from other children (including vaccinated children) and take the child to a medical facility for examination and treatment by a doctor as soon as possible to avoid the risk of complications.