What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is a disease caused by a bacterium called the pertussis bacterium that infects the throat and bronchi. It is thought to be a highly contagious disease that spreads through coughing and sneezing, and through contact with hands that have been contaminated with the bacteria.
It usually starts with symptoms like runny nose and mild cough, but the cough gradually gets worse. The short cough continues without stopping, and after coughing, you may hear a “whoosh” sound when you breathe in. Sometimes you may cough and have to cough up phlegm. The cough is often worse at night, and it can last for a long time. It is thought that the fever is not usually high.
Even if a child has received vaccinations when they are young, their effectiveness diminishes over time, so adults are also required to get vaccinated. In adults, typical coughs are not noticeable, and there are also cases where the cough persists for a long time.
If a baby is infected before receiving the vaccination, it can become more serious. If you have family members with a baby, it is important to check early when a cough persists.
In such cases, seek medical attention.
- The cough has been persistent for a long time
- When the cough starts, it keeps coming and won't stop; I cough and then vomit.
- When you breathe after coughing, you hear a “whoosh” sound.
- There are people in your family, at work, or at school who have had whooping cough.
- My family has a baby and someone who is pregnant and they are still coughing.
In the following cases, immediate emergency medical care is required:
- The inability to breathe after coughing continues, and the lips and face turn purple.
- The baby stops breathing, their color changes, and they have seizures (in babies, coughing may not be noticeable).
Tests performed at our clinic
咳の様子や続いている期間、周囲で百日咳にかかった人がいるか、予防接種歴などを確認します。
百日咳は症状や経過から疑われることがあり、必要に応じて血液検査などを組み合わせて診断します。
If necessary, a chest X-ray is performed to check whether other diseases such as pneumonia are hidden.
medical treatment
For whooping cough, antimicrobial drugs (antibiotics) are used. It is believed that as time passes after the cough begins, the antimicrobial drugs’ ability to quickly cure the cough itself diminishes; however, they are used to reduce the bacteria and prevent it from spreading to others. It is important to finish the prescribed number of doses.
It may take some time for the cough to subside, so we use a combination of medications to help relieve the cough.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do adults get pertussis too?
A. It costs money. The effectiveness of childhood vaccinations diminishes over time, so it also costs adults to get vaccinated. In adults, it can even lead to persistent cough.
Q. When can I start going to school and work?
A. The period of suspension from school attendance is determined by the regulations for the implementation of the School Health Safety Act. Please check with your workplace regarding their policies. We also issue diagnostic certificates to be submitted to schools and workplaces.
Q. Can children be examined as well?
A. Since our clinic is not a pediatric clinic, we do not generally accept children for treatment. Please consult your pediatrician regarding your child’s symptoms.