Child whooping cough is often difficult to detect in babies

Whooping cough in infants: For parents often difficult to recognize
As the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recently reported, the number of whooping cough infections in Germany has risen to a new high. The childhood disease, which also occurs in adults, is especially dangerous for infants. But especially with babies, the disease is often difficult to recognize.

Especially dangerous for infants
Whooping cough (pertussis) occurs throughout the year, but in autumn and winter, infections are generally more common. In recent times, an unusually large number of people have become infected in Germany. The number of infections rose to a new high last year. The childhood disease, which also occurs in adults, is especially dangerous for infants. However, it is often difficult for babies to recognize the disease.

In Germany, there are more and more whooping cough infections. The disease can be particularly dangerous for infants. But especially with them the disease is often difficult to recognize.
(Image: Robert Przybysz / fotolia.com)

Infants often do not show a typical clinical picture
In whooping cough first appear flu-like symptoms such as cold, a mild cough, weakness and only moderate or no fever.

Then there are attacks of coughing followed by inspiratory pulling, which is accompanied by the typical wheezing.

In adults and also in babies whooping cough is usually difficult to recognize. Thus, babies often show no corresponding disease. Therefore, it is sometimes very difficult for parents to tell if their offspring is suffering from whooping cough.

Aerial distress is a typical sign in babies
Not all affected infants cough, as the Association of Paediatricians explained in a message from the news agency dpa.

According to this, shortness of breath is a typical sign in infants. The little ones turn red, gasping and getting blue lips. At worst, the breath temporarily stops completely.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), infants also have the highest risk of having serious complications.

Unvaccinated infants less than six months of age are most likely to require hospital treatment and almost all deaths affect this age group.

Transmission is by droplet infection
Transmission of the highly infectious infectious disease is by droplet infection, which can be done by close contact with an infectious person, by large droplets within a distance of up to about 1 meter by coughing, sneezing or speaking, "writes the RKI on its website.

"Adolescents and adults play an important role as transmitters on infants," it continues.

To protect the babies from infection, parents should ensure that it is surrounded only by vaccinated people. By the time the baby is fully immunized, a good year passes.

Primary immunization for children
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.

The four partial vaccinations are part of the six-dose vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) and hepatitis.

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

Whooping cough does not lead to the onset of symptoms immediately after infection. The time between contagion and the onset of first signs is about seven to twenty days.

Contagion is not possible during this time, but only from the onset of the first symptoms. (Ad)