Whooping cough is something that was expected and has happened in other places around the world. The US has very high vaccine coverage, yet they had a whooping cough epidemic in 2012-2013. The same is observed with us. This was stated by the head of the Children’s Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Prof. Atanas Mangarov, in the program “Face to Face” on BTV.
“The basic cell vaccine has one flaw. In 2014, it was found that the vaccine does not create herd immunity. That is, children do not get sick, but they spread the disease,” he stressed.
“There is another vaccine that has the active ingredient of the disease, it has side effects. It gave a good effect and prevented the vaccinated from getting sick and spreading the infection. These acellular vaccines have fewer side effects, but the duration of protection is shorter (4-5 years), the infectious disease specialist explained.
“Yesterday we received a dozen children with whooping cough. Apart from the cough, there are no other symptoms, but it is very severe. In order for a child to be admitted to a hospital, he must be suffocated. If we do not talk about such a condition, the sick can cough at home. Antibiotic treatment for whooping cough neither reduces the cough nor the duration of the illness. It is important that the person with whooping cough does not go out to spread the disease,” explained Assoc. Mangerov.
He stressed the importance of keeping newborns away from contact with other people and advised pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their babies as well. Babies should be kept away from contacts. Babies should be vaccinated as early as possible to protect themselves, the doctor urged.
When asked if there are medicines that help with whooping cough, Assoc. Mangarov said: “Everything is for the comfort of mothers.” The situation is pre-epidemic, he added.
Tags: Prof Atanas Mangerov Antibiotics whooping cough Diseases
