Conditions
Whooping Cough
Though whopping cough is less common in the UK than it once was thanks to immunisation, it can still be a distressing condition. It’s caused by contagious bacteria which spreads through coughing or sneezing. Babies under six months are particularly prone, but the condition can affect anyone – kids and adults alike. If you or your child do come into contact with whooping cough, it’s worth noting that the vaccination’s effectiveness diminishes over time. Adults who had the jab when they were kids may no longer be immune.
In its early stages, whooping cough can be easy to mistake for a cold. It begins with a runny nose, a fever and a cough. After an incubation period of up to two weeks, the cough will get much worse. It’ll be dry, prolonged and may end with a wheezy, ‘whooping’ sound as the sufferer tries to get their breath back. (It’s worth noting though that not everyone with whooping cough necessarily ‘whoops’ in this way. Sometimes the symptom is just a very bad cough.) The cough will be worse at night and episodes may end with the sufferer being sick. There may also be general difficulties breathing as a result of mucus gathering in the back of the throat.
Because there is a risk of complications associated with whooping cough, if you think your child has the disease you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics, but even so, whooping cough can last for up to eight weeks. Up to 50 per cent of children under 18 months with whooping cough need to be monitored in hospital.
The NHS reports that while there were 100,000 cases of whooping cough in the 1950s, now incidents of the disease in the UK are very low. This is a direct result of the immunisation programme, so it’s important that your kids get the jab at three to four months, and then the pre-school booster when they are between there and five years old.
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My 11 year old daughter, 2 weeks ago started coughing badley i put it down to her asthma because she has been over doing her sports last week we went to see my local nurse to check he asthma and said she was ok but since saterday her cough is much worse with her being sick every time she has a coughing fit we went to the doctors this morning and they said she is ok and there is nothing wrong with her just give her cough medicain but every timme she coughs she is sick. Is this signs of whooping cough. she is up to date with ALL her jabs. If you have any advice for me then that would be grate.
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here in the uk we only get vaccination for whooping cough as babies so it very well that your daughter could get this at 11 years old.
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my daughter period is so light
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