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Toddler Whooping Cough |
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Toddler Whooping Cough - Comprehensive Information on Symptoms and Treating Whooping Cough in Toddlers
Toddler Whooping Cough
Whooping cough or pertussis is an air-borne infection caused by bacteria called bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough is a series of coughing spells where the toddler doesn't get any breathing space between the coughing and when the cough stops, the child ends up taking a deep breath which comes out as whoop, hence the name.
Being an air-borne disease, whooping cough is also extremely contagious. There are of course vaccines for it. The pertussis vaccine is to be administered at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, and then sometime between 4 and 6 years of age. If these vaccinations are taken at the appropriate times, it should keep your child away from pertussis.
However, failing to give the vaccine puts your child at a great risk.
Symptoms of Whooping Cough in Toddlers
The symptoms for whooping cough are much like the symptoms of flu. It starts with a runny nose and sneezing followed by a mild cough and sometimes fever as well. Even while undergoing treatment a pertussis spell sometimes lasts as long as 3 weeks. The risk of contracting whooping cough remains high until the teenage years if your child was not vaccinated for it.
The concern here is that whooping cough can spread like a wild-fire among children. All it takes is a simple touch. Say, a child has a running nose, and he wipes it with his hand and then touches a toy, which is then used by his friend to play and bingo, the bacteria spreads. Similarly, if your child has whooping cough then it could just as easily spread to you and vice versa.
The other concern with whooping cough is because the symptoms are exactly the same as a regular flu or viral infection, you run the risk of not taking it seriously. It is also possible that in the beginning it is misdiagnosed as a seasonal flu. Also, parents can sometimes take the mild coughing or sneezing lightly. In any case in the first one week or so whooping cough behaves exactly like a regular flu. The first indicator that this is indeed pertussis is that unlike seasonal flu, the coughing increases with time.
Treating whooping cough in toddlers
Firstly only take medication prescribed by the GP. Make sure the dosage is administered properly. Secondly, keep your toddler away from other family members as whooping cough is extremely contagious. It would be wise to wear a mask around your toddler at least for about five days after medication starts.
Ensure that your child consumes plenty of fluids as the cough can leave him dehydrated. Whooping cough also makes kids throw up, so try to feed your child small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. Wash your hands frequently and ensure other family members do the same. Sterilize your child's toys, linen and clothes. Most importantly, be patient as sometimes it takes a few days before the antibiotics take effect, so focus on making your child as comfortable as possible.
If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for the family, ensure everyone takes the dosage. With the appropriate treatment and the right precautionary methods, you could ensure that your toddler recovers quickly from his bout of whooping cough
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