http://www.fridayschildmontessori.com/blog/727/ Whooping cough or pertussis is a very infectious disease that is characterised by prolonged coughing fits, often with a “whoop” sound during attempts to inhale, and frequently followed by vomiting. It can develop into complications such as pneumonia and even brain damage, and it is particularly serious in babies. Vaccination is a key part of prevention, which includes ensuring that four-year-olds have had booster shots. See your doctor if you or your child has a cough that doesn’t go away, and stay away from infants and women in late pregnancy.
2. Most children – and most adults – manage
to pick up at least one bout of the common
cold during the winter months.
3. And most of us know enough about the
common cold not to worry too much about
them.
4. However, it’s important to be alert to the
possibility that our children may have
picked up something more serious.
5.
6. The early stages of whooping cough look
like a regular cold – runny nose, sneezing,
slight coughing and a mild fever.
7. However, it is more serious and longer
lasting, and may require treatment with
antibiotics.
8. Unfortunately, by the time a parent
usually realises that their child has
whooping cough, the disease may have
been spread to other children and to
other family members.
9.
10. One of the common names
for whooping cough or pertussis is the
“hundred day cough”.
11. Whooping cough doesn’t necessarily last
100 days, but it can last up to eight weeks
before it clears by itself – and even shorter
episodes can seem like forever to a parent.
12. The key sign of whooping cough is that
the patient suffers from coughing fits.
13.
14. These coughing fits are much more serious
than a prolonged session of coughing when
the body tries to rid itself from phlegm in
the respiratory passages.
15. In pertussis, the coughing fits are
triggered by many common actions, such
as laughing, shouting, yawning, eating or
stretching.
16. The coughing fit is so intense that when
the child coughing tries to draw an inward
breath, the air rushes in with a whooping
sound – hence the name whooping cough.
18. In between coughing fits, the child can
seem quite normal and happy. So can
adults, who are also susceptible to
pertussis.
19. Some adults may not be aware that they
have the condition, as they are less likely to
make the whooping sound when they draw
breath.
20. You may wonder why whooping cough is
worth worrying about.
21. While prolonged coughing is a nuisance
while it goes on – to say nothing of the
vomiting afterwards – is it really a big deal?
Yes, it is. It can kill.
22. Especially in kids, whooping cough is a red
alert for parents.
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