To proactively prevent diseases for children before they reach vaccination age, mothers can get the combined tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (Tdap) during pregnancy.
At the same time last year, Hanoi had not recorded any cases of whooping cough, but this year, the number of children infected has exceeded 100. The situation of whooping cough in children has also increased in many other localities.
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| To proactively prevent diseases for children before they reach vaccination age, mothers can get the combined tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (Tdap) during pregnancy. |
According to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC), 116 cases of whooping cough have been recorded since the beginning of 2024. This is an unusual increase because there were no cases recorded in the same period in 2023.
Cases are currently recorded sporadically, mainly in young children who are not old enough to be vaccinated or have not been fully vaccinated with vaccines containing whooping cough.
According to Dr. Nguyen Van Lam, Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases, National Children's Hospital, whooping cough has signs and symptoms that can easily be 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 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.
Symptoms of whooping cough usually appear within 7-10 days after infection. Most severe cases are concentrated in children under 2 years old, especially under 12 months old. It should be noted that adults with whooping cough often have mild symptoms, so they are easily subjective and become the main source of infection for young children in the house.
Children are susceptible to whooping cough, especially those under 1 year old, because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, so the risk of death is higher.
In the group that is too young to be vaccinated (under 2 months), the baby depends on antibodies from the mother. Babies born to vaccinated mothers have a 91% lower risk of developing whooping cough in the first months of life compared to babies born to unvaccinated mothers.
To prevent whooping cough, according to Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, Safpo/Potec Vaccination System, vaccination is the most important thing to protect children's health.
To proactively prevent whooping cough, parents need to take note to vaccinate their children against whooping cough fully and on schedule: 1st dose: When the child is 2 months old. 2nd dose: 1 month after the first dose. 3rd dose: 1 month after the second dose. 4th dose: When the child is 18 months old.
Children born to mothers who do not have antibodies against whooping cough are at higher risk of developing the disease than children who receive antibodies from their mothers.
To proactively prevent diseases for children before they reach vaccination age, mothers can get the combined tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (Tdap) during pregnancy.
Along with that, it is necessary to implement other measures well such as regularly washing hands with soap, covering mouth when coughing or sneezing; keeping children's body, nose and throat clean every day; ensuring houses, kindergartens and classrooms are airy, clean and have enough light; limiting children from going to crowded places, avoiding contact with people with respiratory diseases, especially whooping cough.
Parents need to distinguish between whooping cough and common cough to take their children to the hospital promptly. When suspecting whooping cough or having any signs of the disease such as having many coughs, having red or purple face during coughs, each cough lasting long; poor appetite, vomiting a lot; sleeping little; rapid breathing/difficulty breathing, take your child to the hospital for examination, determining the cause and supporting early treatment.
For children with whooping cough, according to Dr. CK1 Bui Thu Phuong, Department of Pediatrics, 108 Central Military Hospital, when they have whooping cough, children need to rest in a quiet, dimly lit, comfortable room, avoid anxiety, and avoid environments with risk factors such as cigarette smoke, dust, noise, and many stimulants.
Divide your child's meals into smaller portions, avoid eating too many meals a day. Closely monitor your child's cough, provide enough oxygen and suction when necessary.
Antibiotics: Need to be given early. Indicated when whooping cough is suspected or confirmed in children under 1 month of age within 6 weeks of cough onset, children over 1 year of age within 3 weeks of cough onset.
Erythromycin, clarithromycin or Azithromycin antibiotics can be used in children > 1 month of age. Infants under 1 month of age should only use Azithromycin.
Other treatments: Corticoids are not usually recommended; Generic IVIG without specific antibodies is not indicated in whooping cough…
Treatment of respiratory failure: Patients need oxygen when showing signs of respiratory failure such as rapid breathing, exertion, cyanosis, SpO2 below 92% when breathing room air. Intubate and provide early respiratory support when there are signs of severe respiratory failure and/or signs of circulatory failure.
Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, blood exchange or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): Indicated and performed at specialized medical facilities with conditions for close care and monitoring of children.
Isolation: Hospitalized children should be placed on standard precautions, respiratory precautions are recommended for at least 5 days after starting antibiotic treatment. Isolation for 3-4 weeks is recommended to minimize the risk of infection, reduce stimulation to the child, and avoid concerns about transmission to family members.
In addition, post-exposure antibiotic prophylaxis should be offered to household contacts and caregivers of the child regardless of age, vaccination history, and symptoms. Vaccination of close contacts should also be considered.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/ho-ga-tang-cao-khuyen-cao-bien-phap-phong-benh-d219973.html
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