Whooping cough is difficult to detect in adults

Whooping cough in adults is often difficult to detect

08/12/2011

Pertussis nowadays affects adults in Germany significantly more frequently than children. But the disease is usually much harder to recognize and therefore often left untreated. Those who suffer from severe Hustreiz over a longer period should, according to Dr. Michael Barczok from the Federal Association of Pulmonologists in Heidenheim opposite the news agency „dpa“ consider a whooping cough infection and urgently consult a doctor.

While pertussis in children is usually relatively easy to recognize due to typical accompanying symptoms such as nighttime coughs, nausea, and vomiting, these symptoms are absent in about one in three adults, and the suspicion tends to be persistent cold or flu. Especially since many sufferers already have a whooping cough vaccine over their life course. But this protects, according to Dr. Barczok does not permanently face a re-infection. Because after around ten years, the vaccine again and after the pathogens can no longer be fended off, explained the expert of the Federal Association of Pulmonologists. Dr. Barczok therefore recommends regular booster vaccines, which could be given together with the vaccines against diphtheria, polio and tetanus. The cost of vaccination will, according to Dr. med. Barczok taken over by the health insurance.

Risks of a whooping cough infection
Pertussis infection presents significant health risks, especially for children and infants, but adults are also at risk of serious adverse effects. For example, around one quarter of patients experience complications during the course of the disease, which in the worst case can have fatal consequences. For example, a whooping cough infection can cause pneumonia, seizures, cerebral hemorrhage, and permanent damage to the brain. According to experts, around 110,000 patients a year suffer from whooping cough, and one in every 1,000 patients does not survive the disease. Most affected are infants and babies. The infection is caused by droplets that are transmitted to other people when coughing. Whooping cough is extremely contagious and therefore needs in the interest of fellow human beings of a timely medical treatment. Better still would be in the opinion of the expert from the Federal Association of Pulmonologists, Dr. med. Barczok regularly refreshes the whooping cough vaccine to eliminate the risk of infection from the outset. (Fp)

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Whooping cough: 75 percent of them are adults