“This is a dangerous disease for newborns, infants and up to 2 years of age. There is nothing human-like about whooping cough, there is no fever, just a cough and the attacks can last up to 10 minutes. They often end with a sudden prolonged gasping for breath with a specific sound like a donkey or braying. In young children, it can lead to respiratory arrest and brain hemorrhage, because intracranial pressure increases during coughing fits. The pertussis toxin irritates the bone marrow and increases white blood cells. And a child who coughs and has high lymphocytes, most likely has whooping cough,” explained Assoc. Mangerov.
And he added:
“Now pregnant women will be vaccinated and these antibodies in them will to some extent interfere with the effect of the vaccine. In my opinion, it is best not to make hasty changes. For the time being, newborns should isolate themselves from large social contacts until they become vaccinated, the whole family should not be gathered at discharge“.
Assoc. Mangerov commented that pregnant women, if they want to be vaccinated, can do so, “it is safe, but it is even better when they plan to become pregnant, to be vaccinated beforehand”.
“The antibodies remain and are transferred to the baby“, the doctor is emphatic.
Herd immunity will occur when pertussis spreads through the entire populationsaid Assoc. Mangerov.
Listen to the entire interview in the audio file.
Tags: Prof Atanas Mangerov situation pertussis vaccine shortlived day
