Serious disease, mortality rate reaches 4%

Whooping cough is a serious disease – the death rate reaches 2-4% and it is no coincidence that the vaccine is in the mandatory immunization calendar. This was said by Prof. Iva Hristova, director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (NCCPD).

“The most risky group is the newborns – a month or two before their first immunization”, she explained to bTV and added that the two deaths of newborns in Kyustendil were probably due to delayed treatment.

Prof. Iva Hristova pointed out that prescribing an antibiotic initially suppresses the development of bacteria. “If the treatment is delayed, the expressed symptoms already show that these bacteria have started to release toxins,” she explained.

“Regarding the recognition of whooping cough – it begins as an acute respiratory disease. There is a runny nose, fever and a slight cough. The symptoms, which are severe and lead to suffocation, develop in the following days and weeks,” further explained Prof. Hristova.

According to her, the case in Kyustendil shows that there are many sources of infection that are asymptomatic or have atypical symptoms. She explained that the “tip of the iceberg” is being caught, and probably the spread of the infection is much larger and not easily recognized.

“Obviously there is a hidden morbidity because the source of the infection cannot be detected. Sick people spread the bacteria already in the incubation period – even before symptoms appear. If caught already in the first week, the treatment will give an effect and these attacks will be missed of coughing. But if this period is missed and ten days pass, the unvaccinated persons have severe attacks – convulsions and convulsions, which lead to the inability to take in air”, explained the expert.