Whooping cough, what is that actually? And what does the disease lead to, because many people don’t know that. It is clear that the whooping cough bacteria is very dangerous for babies. Babies can die from whooping cough and that does happen. In the Netherlands, no fewer than 8 babies have died from whooping cough in 15 years. But what is whooping cough? And what are the symptoms of this nasty disease?
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is a respiratory infection.
More infections with whooping cough
More and more people are becoming infected with whooping cough. This is what the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said in 2012. Every two to three years there is a peak in the outbreak of the disease and that was also the case in 2012. In February 2012, it was reported that a thousand people had been affected by the disease. In 2011 that number was only four hundred.
If you have whooping cough, what symptoms do you have?
As the name suggests, whooping cough is accompanied by coughing. Coughing loudly and coughing a lot. The coughing fits often occur close together, which often makes someone with the disease very tired. Tough mucus is often coughed up. Breathing can also be very screeching. Shortness of breath is common, as is vomiting due to coughing fits. In addition, people who have the disease often feel lethargic and lethargic.
Brain haemorrhage due to whooping cough
Prolonged coughing can cause oxygen shortages in the brain and cerebral hemorrhages. These in turn can lead to brain damage. The lungs are also often affected and permanent damage can occur there too. For most adults, the consequences of whooping cough are not too bad, but babies are especially at risk if they contract the disease. Because they are more likely to stop breathing, some of them die from the disease. The bad news is that in 2012 there was no treatment for whooping cough.
Vaccinate against whooping cough
In the Netherlands, people are vaccinated against whooping cough. However, the disease has adapted to the vaccination and as a result, some of the vaccinated people still get whooping cough. This is especially the case among children between 5 and 9 years old. However, those who have been vaccinated will get the disease, but in a much milder form than people who have not been vaccinated.
When is whooping cough dangerous?
Children who have not been vaccinated or who have not been sufficiently vaccinated are at greatest risk if they do develop whooping cough. If they are found to be suffering from the disease, they are often immediately admitted to hospital. After all, there is no cure for whooping cough. Yet 8 babies have still died from the disease in the last 15 years.
Adults can transmit the disease to babies
Adults also get whooping cough, but the symptoms are often less severe. They often cough a lot and for a long time. However, the risk of an adult having the disease is that they could transmit it to a baby who has not been vaccinated or has not been adequately vaccinated. This infection then takes place through coughing and sneezing. The incubation period is between 7 and 10 days. The disease is mainly transmitted in the initial period when the person who has the disease does not even cough. Then the danger is greatest.
Vaccinations against whooping cough
Babies are vaccinated against whooping cough by the government. They receive three injections between two and four months. When they are eleven months and then four years old, they receive a follow-up injection that should protect them for longer.
New whooping cough vaccine
From 2005, children will receive a new whooping cough vaccine. This should ensure that protection against the disease in children aged 1 to 3 years is improved. The fight against whooping cough will be examined more closely, because so many people are still getting sick and the vaccine seems to have less and less power.