As of today, April 22, there are no registered cases of whooping cough in the Dobrich region, the Regional Health Inspectorate reports.
RZI recommends that parents who, for some reason, have postponed their children’s immunizations, consult their personal physicians and undertake immunization. They remind that immunity against whooping cough is created within 21 days after immunization.
Whooping cough
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is also known as whooping cough, 100 day cough. It is a highly infectious bacterial disease affecting the respiratory tract. It is caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis) that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 days after infection, but can appear up to 21 days later. Initially, symptoms resemble those of a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever, and a mild cough.
Within two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by episodes of numerous short-term coughs, followed by a specific inspiratory sound – “braying, donkey sound” or a high-pitched tone. Children often cough with their tongue sticking out.
These episodes often end with the passage of a thick, clear liquid, often followed by vomiting. They initially appear at night and then become more frequent during the day and can last for one to two months. Young babies may never develop the typical “wheezing” and coughing fits may be followed by brief periods of respiratory arrest.
After this phase, the coughing fits become less frequent and milder and the baby gradually improves, although this may take up to three months.
Adolescents, adults, or partially immunized children usually have milder or atypical symptoms. In them, as in very young babies, whooping cough can be more difficult to diagnose.
What are the complications of whooping cough?
The most common complications affect the respiratory tract and the central nervous system.
Complications of whooping cough include bronchitis, which can last a long time, pneumonia, middle ear infection, loss of appetite, dehydration, brain disorders, hernias, rib fractures, rectal prolapse, episodes of respiratory arrest, seizures. In severe forms of whooping cough, there is a change in consciousness and seizures, which are the result of impaired oxygen supply and brain hemorrhages and can lead to permanent brain damage. Severe cases can lead to death.
The disease is especially dangerous for infants and children of early childhood, who are not immunized against the infection.
Deaths from whooping cough are most common in young babies who die from pneumonia or from lack of oxygen reaching the brain. Deaths occur every year in Europe and are often among babies who were too young to be fully vaccinated.
How is pertussis spread?
It is transmitted by airborne droplets when an infected person coughs. It can also be transmitted from a person who has a mild form of the disease or from an infected person who has no symptoms (a healthy carrier). Sick people spread the bacteria already in the incubation period – even before the appearance of symptoms. Often, the disease is transmitted by older siblings or parents who bring it home, and thus the baby in the family is infected.
Who is at risk of contracting whooping cough?
Whooping cough can occur at any age.
Anyone who is not vaccinated against pertussis with the recommended number of vaccine doses is at risk, regardless of age.
Unlike diseases such as chicken pox and measles, it is possible to have whooping cough more than once in your lifetime because the antibodies that develop after infection or immunization decrease/disappear over time.
How can infection with whooping cough be prevented?
The surest way to protect against whooping cough is full immunization.
The pertussis vaccine is combined in various variants with vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, invasive diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B.
The initial vaccination of 3 doses is given between the ages of two and twelve months (on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th months, the vaccine is Hexacima), according to the National Immunization Calendar of the Republic of Bulgaria. From the 16th month after birth, but not earlier than 12 months after the third dose of Hexacima, the child is given a fourth dose (first reimmunization, the vaccine is Pentaxim), the following reimmunizations are in the year when the children turn 6 years old (the vaccine is Tetraxim) and in the year they turn 12 (the vaccine is Boostrix).
In some EU/EEA countries, booster doses are recommended in adolescents and adults and/or pregnant women, which provides temporary protection to the baby after birth. Vaccination during pregnancy (in the last trimester of pregnancy) helps to protect the newborn during the first few months of its life, before it has received the primary immunization against pertussis. Thus, the mother will form new antibodies that cross the placental barrier and protect the baby until the first immunization.
In some countries, booster doses are also recommended for unvaccinated women who have recently given birth to reduce the risk of passing the disease to the baby.
For all health-insured persons with a selected personal physician, the mandatory immunizations and re-immunizations are performed by the personal physician after an examination on the day of vaccination and are free of charge for the patient.
For health-insured persons who have not exercised their right to choose a personal physician, mandatory immunizations and re-immunizations can be carried out free of charge in the immunization office of each Regional Health Inspectorate on the territory of regional cities.
For the Dobrich region – in the RZI-Dobrich, St. Sv. Cyril and Methodius №57, tel. 058/655 500;
How is whooping cough treated?
The disease is treatable. It can be treated with antibiotics, which also helps stop further spread. However, for maximum effectiveness of the treatment, it should be started as early as possible, in the first one to two weeks before the attacks of rapid succession coughing occur. If it is diagnosed up to 10-14 days after the onset of symptoms and with timely treatment, a significant relief of symptoms and faster healing can be expected. Unfortunately, with late diagnosis, antibiotic treatment is little effective.
What to do if you think you may have whooping cough or if you have been exposed to whooping cough?
If you think you have whooping cough, you should seek medical attention and inform your healthcare facility/GP/pediatrician in advance to avoid infecting other patients. Cover your mouth and nose to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other people.
A person with whooping cough can be contagious for four to five weeks from the onset of the illness. Treatment with antibiotics can shorten the contagious period and limit the risk of infection to other people. People who have or may have whooping cough should stay away from young children and infants until they are properly treated. Treating people who are in close contact with people with whooping cough is also an important part of prevention.
