The best prevention against whooping cough is getting the mandatory vaccine for the disease, pediatrician Dr. Antonia Pandjarova, head of the Children’s Department at the General Hospital for Active Treatment (MBAL) “G.S. Schwartz” in Troyan.
Whooping cough is spread by airborne droplets. The incubation period of the disease is from one to three weeks after contact with an infected patient. Primary complaints include: not very high temperature – about 37.5 degrees, dry cough, sneezing, watery eyes. During the first two weeks, whooping cough is treated with antibiotics, and then with other medications at the discretion of the attending physician, explained Dr. Pandjarova.
She emphasized that if the above symptoms appear, a doctor’s examination is necessary and that the best prevention is vaccination.
According to the information available to the head of the children’s department, no cases of whooping cough have been registered in Troyan so far. In one of the Trojan laboratories, there is an opportunity to conduct research on the disease, she added.
Vaccinated school-age children or adults can also get sick, because immunity decreases over time. It is expected that when there is a vaccine, the complaints will be significantly milder and the disease will pass more quickly, like an ordinary viral infection, added Dr. Pandjarova.
The municipal administration announced that, on the initiative of the Municipality and the MBAL “G.S. Schwartz” a working meeting was held with representatives of medical specialists working in municipal kindergartens, schools and nurseries in the city to discuss measures to prevent the spread of whooping cough infection.
Children’s and school children’s immunization passports have been reviewed and an enhanced morning filter and disinfection is being carried out.
The administration has provided informational materials about the disease to be distributed among parents.
Tags: prevention whooping cough vaccination Antonia Pandjarova hospital Troyan
