Hanoi has the first case of whooping cough in 2023

The National Children's Hospital has just admitted a 6-week-old patient with whooping cough - this is the first whooping cough patient in Hanoi in 2023. Specifically, the first case of whooping cough this year is a 6-week-old girl (residing in Dan Phuong, Hanoi). The girl started to have symptoms on November 10 with a cough, no fever, no vomiting. When she came to the National Children's Hospital for examination, she was diagnosed with bronchitis and prescribed medication for home treatment.

After 3 days of treatment with no signs of improvement, the family took the child to Phuong Dong Hospital for examination. The child was prescribed medication to continue treatment at home.

However, on November 16, this child again showed signs of coughing a lot at night, poor feeding, coughing spells lasting about 10 minutes, SpO2 dropping to 89% (no oxygen breathing), and facial cyanosis. Immediately, the child was taken to the National Children's Hospital in a state of breathing 5 liters/minute of oxygen mask, red throat, and swollen nose. The patient was tested for whooping cough by PCR with positive results.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Lam - Director of the Tropical Disease Center, National Children's Hospital, "Whooping cough can lead to dangerous complications such as severe pneumonia and encephalitis. It can even lead to mechanical complications such as intussusception, hernia, and rectal prolapse. Severe cases can result in alveolar rupture, mediastinal emphysema, or pneumothorax. Therefore, early detection of signs of the disease for treatment is very important."

Hanoi has the first chicken in 2023, the possibility of spreading many dangerous complications is high. — Hanoi recorded its first case of whooping cough this year. Illustrative photo

With whooping cough, the incubation period usually lasts from 6 to 20 days (average about 9 to 10 days), during which time there are usually no symptoms. The main symptoms of the disease are severe coughing and wheezing. If properly treated and cared for, usually starting from the 4th week of the onset of the disease, the symptoms of whooping cough will improve and gradually disappear completely.

The disease can be transmitted through the respiratory tract through direct contact with secretions from the nasal and throat mucosa of the patient when coughing or sneezing. The disease is highly contagious, especially among children living in the same closed space such as schools. The disease often progresses severely, leading to death due to secondary infection, causing complications to the lungs, bronchitis, especially in children under 5 years old.

Currently, the best way to prevent whooping cough is still vaccination. Children who have not been vaccinated on schedule or who have been vaccinated late should be vaccinated as soon as possible to effectively prevent whooping cough. Children should be vaccinated with a whooping cough vaccine such as DPT to prevent the disease: 1st dose when the child is 2 months old; 2nd dose when the child is 3 months old; 3rd dose when the child is 4 months old and 4th dose when the child is 18 - 24 months old.

However, the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine in the Expanded Immunization Program in many localities is no longer available, including two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Due to changes in the vaccine purchasing mechanism, the Ministry of Health has urgently placed orders with domestic manufacturers to ensure supply in 2023. The Ministry is carrying out the next procedures to be able to receive vaccines from the manufacturer as soon as possible.

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