What is parapertussis? Symptoms in children, the treatment of this disease and the causes of its occurrence will be presented below. We will also tell you about what measures should be taken to avoid the development of this disease.
Basic information
Parawhooping cough in children is a fairly common infection. However, in fairness, it should be noted that such a disease develops much less frequently than whooping cough. Such diseases are completely unrelated to each other. Most often, parawhooping cough affects children 3-6 years old and very rarely babies under one year old and teenagers.
What is parapertussis?
Symptoms in children, treatment of this disease should only be determined by an experienced pediatrician.
Para whooping cough is a disease of an acute nature and infectious origin. It is characterized by persistent, dry and paroxysmal cough, as well as the phenomena of tracheobronchitis.
The signs of the disease in question are very similar to the clinical picture of a mild form of whooping cough. Usually, after a disease, a person develops a stable and type-specific immunity. Re-infection is not possible or the risk is low.
Pathways of transmission and causes of disease
The causative agent of the disease in question is Bordetella parapertussis. This is the parapertussis bacillus, which has the same pathogenic properties as the whooping cough bacillus. It should be noted that it differs in some cultural and biochemical characteristics.
How is parapertussis transmitted (symptoms in children, treatment will be discussed below)? The source of infection is a sick child, and sometimes a bacteriocarrier. The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets.
The disease in question is characterized by periodic bursts of incidence, as well as epidemic outbreaks in kindergartens and schools.
Forms of infectious disease
What forms does such a disease as parawhooping cough have? Symptoms in children, treatment of this disease depend on the type of developed pathology. Specialists distinguish several forms of parapertussis:
- typical;
- atypical (asymptomatic, bacterial carrier, erased form).
It should also be noted that this disease can run:
- medium;
- easy form.
Depending on the complications, the disease in question is subdivided:
- for uncomplicated (with a smooth course);
- complicated (with the addition of a secondary infection or exacerbation of chronic diseases).
Parapertussis symptoms in children
Treatment, feedback and advice on preventing this disease will be consideredbelow.
The incubation period of this disease lasts for 4-14 days. The clinical picture of parapertussis is characterized by the presence of three periods of development of pathological signs. The first symptoms, or the so-called catarrhal period, can be confused with manifestations of influenza or acute respiratory infections:
- itchy and sore throat;
- dry cough;
- minor rhinitis.
This period lasts for 3-5 days. Then comes the spasmodic period. It is characterized by the following features:
- with an atypical form, a wet and obsessive cough with sputum discharge is manifested;
- with whooping cough, the patient has a paroxysmal cough, which ends with wheezing or vomiting (attacks occur no more than 7 times a day).
According to doctors, coughing fits develop due to mechanical stimuli, excessive activity or nervous strain.
Typically, the duration of the spasmodic period does not exceed two weeks.
During the reverse development of the disease, the cough weakens, and then completely disappears (in about 3 days). At the same time, the temperature of the child remains normal. As for the catarrhal and spasmodic period, then with them the baby may have subfebrile condition.
Complications
What complications can parapertussis cause? Symptoms (and treatment) in children of this disease are known to everyone.pediatrician, and the pathology should be detected in time. This is due to the fact that the disease in question can cause serious complications associated with the addition of a secondary infection.
Most often, parawhooping cough develops respiratory diseases, including pleurisy, pneumonia and bronchitis. There are also complications such as pneumothorax, emphysema, and rectal prolapse.
How is it diagnosed?
If your baby has a severe dry cough and no fever, you should immediately contact a specialist (ENT, pulmonologist, pediatrician or infectious disease specialist).
In making a correct diagnosis, information about the child's last contact with a sick person is of great importance. Also, the baby is recommended to be tested for whooping cough and parapertussis.
Children undergo the following examinations to confirm the diagnosis:
- bacterial culture of a smear taken from the posterior pharyngeal wall;
- chest x-ray;
- blood test for the presence of antibodies to parapertussis.
Treatment process
How to treat parapertussis in children? The doctor will tell you about this in detail. In most cases, the treatment of such a disease is carried out on an outpatient basis. However, in some situations, the child is still hospitalized. As a rule, this happens if the baby is not yet three years old or the disease is extremely severe. In addition, a child is observed only in a hospital if he hasthere are any serious complications.
According to the statements of experienced specialists, there is no specific treatment for such a disease. However, to relieve unpleasant symptoms, doctors recommend the following activities:
- vitamin therapy, desensitizing treatment;
- providing an optimal microclimate in the room where the patient is located, that is, humid and cool air;
- oxygenobarotherapy, regular inhalations of moist air through a nebulizer;
- frequent walks in the fresh air (preferably away from highways).
Medicated treatment
As mentioned above, there is no specific treatment for parapertussis in children. However, doctors still prescribe certain medications for babies.
From medicines prescribed by specialists, sick children can use:
- sedatives;
- "Tussin Plus" or "Bronholitin" (especially in the catarrhal period);
- antibiotic drugs (macrolides) in case of a complicated course of the disease (only for children under one year old).
It cannot be said that the following procedures are actively used for parawhooping cough:
- acupuncture;
- physiotherapy.
Experts say that during the course of such a disease, it is extremely important to refuse to take solid food in the form of cookies, crackers, hard fruits and vegetables. You should also refrain from active activities and games,which may contribute to the development of paroxysmal cough.
Preventive measures
Now you know what whooping cough and parawhooping cough are. Differences in children were presented slightly higher.
As in the case of treatment, there is no specific prevention for this disease. Preventive measures should be aimed at preventing the spread of infection in the children's team. For this sick baby, they are isolated for 25 days from the onset of the disease. At the same time, contact persons undergo bacteriological examination at least twice.
If an infection occurs in kindergartens or schools, they are quarantined for a period of two weeks.
Expert tips and reviews
In order not to infect other children with parawhooping cough, it is strictly forbidden to contact them when walking with a sick baby.
According to doctors, the whooping cough vaccine does nothing to protect the child from parapertussis.
To humidify the air in the room where the patient is, just open the windows and hang wet towels or sheets. Under such conditions, it will be much easier to transfer the disease, in particular paroxysmal cough.
Experts do not advise parents to leave children's cough without proper attention. After all, it is this symptom that very often indicates the development of serious and severe infectious diseases. At the first signs of a child's malaise, it is necessary to immediately show the pediatrician or any other narrow specialistdirection in order to avoid the spread of infection and the development of various complications.
