PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES ; WHOOPING COUGH (13)

WHOOPING COUGH

It is an acute, infectious disease of the respiratory tract which usually affects infants and young children. It is also known as Pertussis. Most children affected are normally under the age of five. Whooping cough can last up to 10 weeks and can lead to Pneumonia.

CAUSES

The disease is caused by a bacteria known as Bacillus Bordetella pertussis

Source
A coloured stain of the Whooping cough bacteria

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge
• Watery eyes
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Whooping
• Discolouration of lips, tongue, and nails

MANAGEMENT OF WHOOPING COUGH

The management is more medical since its symptoms resemble other medical conditions like COVID 19. The patient goes through medical examination, often confirmed with a culture taken from the nose.
Always consult your physician or doctor for diagnosis.

FIRST AID / OTHER MANAGEMENT

• Encourage the victim to drink more fluids and water
• Keeping the patient warm
• Eat frequently but in small quantities
• Avoid getting closer to things that make you cough
• Practice social distance if your cough is unusual to avoid spreading the infection
• In severe cases, the patient or victim may require hospitalization.

NB ;

The best preventive measure for whooping cough is vaccination in the first six months of life
Remember that whooping cough is one of the six killer diseases.

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Thank you for following through with today's session. I hope you have learned a lot.
The next lesson will be on DIPHTHERIA; another killer disease.

Stay safe, practice social distancing, and don't forget to mask up.
Peace ✌✌