Cases of whooping cough That's how you should protect yourself

Less whooping cough cases - disease remains dangerous

After the number of whooping cough infections in Germany reached a new high last year, the number of illnesses in Baden-Württemberg has fallen since the beginning of the year. How the trend in the course of the year, however, is not yet in sight. The disease is especially dangerous for small children.

Especially dangerous for infants

Whooping cough (pertussis) occurs throughout the year, but in autumn and winter, infections are generally more common. In southwestern Germany, however, the number of whooping cough cases fell at the beginning of the year. Nonetheless, childhood illness, which also occurs in adults, remains dangerous especially for infants.

Although the number of whooping cough cases in southwestern Germany has fallen, the highly infectious disease remains particularly dangerous for infants. (Image: Coloures-pic / fotolia.com)

At present no prognosis can be given

In Baden-Württemberg, the number of whooping cough cases has fallen at the beginning of the year. According to a report of the "Stuttgarter Zeitung", the regional council of Stuttgart announced that 266 cases were registered nationwide from the turn of the year to the beginning of February.

According to the figures, there were significantly more in the comparable period of the previous year with 390 illnesses.

According to the agency, however, no forecasts could be made. So early in the year it is not yet clear to what extent the trend will continue in the further course of the year.

Lengthy dry cough

The infectious disease is particularly dangerous for infants, sometimes even life threatening.

The respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria initially leads to mild cold symptoms such as runny nose, coughing and weakness.

Later, a protracted, dry cough is typical. According to health experts, it comes to spasmodic coughing fits, which often end with a gasping intake of air.

The numerous coughing fits occur in many patients, mainly at night. Normally, an infection takes about four to six weeks.

According to medical experts, whooping cough can only be successfully combated with antibiotics in the early stages.

Experts call for vaccination

Transmission of the highly contagious disease "is by droplet infection, which can occur by close contact with an infectious person, by large droplets within a distance up to about 1 meter by coughing, sneezing or speaking," writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on his website.

The incubation period is usually nine to ten days (range: six to 20 days).

Especially important is the provision. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends starting the vaccine against whooping cough, which consists of four vaccine doses, from the age of two months and completing it by the 14th month of life at the latest.

At the age of five to six and from nine to 17 years, the vaccine should be refreshed once each.

Also "All adults should be vaccinated once against pertussis", so the RKI. Not only to protect yourself from a disease, but also to protect other people from infection.

"This is especially important for infants," explain the experts. Because: "Infants can not be vaccinated against pertussis until the second month of age and have no natural nest protection against the disease. They are therefore dependent on the passive protective effect of immunizing the people around them. "(Ad)