Coughs could be a sign of an infection caused by bacteria which will result to lung and air duct inflammation in the respiratory system. One of many coughs that are often suffered by a baby is pertussis or whooping cough. This type of disease is caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. A baby who is suffered pertussis will cough repeatedly for twenty to thirty seconds without stopping, then she will try to take a breath before she start to cough again.
Although most part of babies now has received vaccination to against pertussis, but there is still less possible that some babies still have a chance to suffer this whooping cough. Medical experts admitted that pertussis vaccine doesn’t one hundred percent effective in preventing pertussis in baby.
For baby less than a year, pertussis can be very dangerous since their respiratory system hasn’t fully developed yet, so it is very vulnerable for baby to be suffered complication such as pneumonia, brain damage and even death. To assure your baby suffering pertussis or not, you should call doctor. Doctor will observe your baby’s condition by checking baby’s nose and conducting cell test. If there is a positive result, doctors will prescript antibiotics for your baby. Prescript antibiotic doesn’t reefed pertussis’ duration at all. Nevertheless, the antibiotic will prevent the infection spread in your kid or your baby or someone else.
As parent, we must be worried to our beloved’s condition, but on the other side we can’t do anything to relieve baby’s coughs, we have to wait. This will take time for three to ten weeks. For that time, do not give your baby an antitussive, unless doctor recommends the contrary. In this case, prevent whooping coughs in baby by giving antitussive to them means that you suppress baby’s natural reaction in cleaning the lung from mucous. Besides, by giving antitussive you will also block baby’s body system ability in healing the condition.
One thing you should know is even baby have been infected by pertussis, there is still a chance that she can be infected again by the same bacteria. Even that so, the next pertussis’ bouts would be lighter than before.
Three stages of pertussis (whooping cough):
- The first symptom is coughing like any other disease, namely influenza. Afterwards, disturbing dry cough starts to attack and worse at night and after eat.
- After one or two week(s), baby starts to cough repeatedly. She looks like choking and her face getting red or blue. When baby tries to take a breath, it is sounded like a roar. But, when baby is not coughing, she looks healthy. Baby is also possible to suffer vomits.
- On the final stage, cough will not disturb anymore since it’s getting lighter. But, she still feels weak.
Simple tips: Do not leave your baby alone when she is suffering pertussis (whooping cough). The bouts could be suddenly happened for some nights, respectively. These bouts of whooping cough often attack and happen at night.
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December 21st, 2009 at 8:18 pm
A mother’s joy begins when new life is stirring inside… when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone. (Author Unknown)