Nutrition
What kind of treatment is required for whooping cough?
Since whooping cough is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are the primary course of treatment. Antibiotics are most effective in the early stages of whooping cough. They can also be used in the late stages of the infection to prevent it from spreading to others.
What is the fastest way to recover from whooping cough?
Treatment. Antibiotics are used to treat whooping cough in the early stages. This can prevent a severe case of the disease and help to stop the infection spreading to other people. Some babies may need treatment in hospital, sometimes in intensive care.
Which class of antibiotics works best for whooping cough?
Erythromycin, a macrolide antibiotic, has been the antimicrobial of choice for treatment or postexposure prophylaxis of pertussis. It is usually administered in 4 divided daily doses for 14 days.
Do antibiotics help whooping cough?
Antibiotics kill the bacteria causing whooping cough and help speed recovery. Exposed family members may be given preventive antibiotics. Unfortunately, not much is available to relieve the cough.
How serious is whooping cough in adults?
Whooping cough can last up to 10 weeks and can lead to pneumonia and other complications. The symptoms of whooping cough may look like other medical conditions. Always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis.
Does whooping cough damage lungs?
Post-lung infection. Childhood (and sometimes adult) lung infections such as tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough and pneumonia can leave behind areas of damaged lung with bronchiectasis.
Can whooping cough be cured without antibiotics?
Pertussis bacteria die off naturally after three weeks of coughing. If antibiotics are not started within that time, they are no longer recommended. Antibiotics can also be given to close contacts of persons with pertussis to prevent or lessen the symptoms.
What happens if pertussis is left untreated?
Teens and Adults For example, you may pass out or break (fracture) a rib during violent coughing fits. In one study, less than 1 out of 20 (5%) teens and adults with pertussis needed care in the hospital. Healthcare professionals diagnosed pneumonia (lung infection) in 1 out of 50 (2%) of those patients.
What respiratory illnesses mimic whooping cough?
Beware: there are other diseases that can mimic pertussis: Adenoviruses, parainfluenza and influenza viruses, enteroviruses, and respiratory syncytial virus can cause a predominantly cough illness.
Does prednisone help whooping cough?
Coughing, whooping, and vomiting episodes occurred less frequently in the steroid-treated groups, and the illness was shorter especially in babies under 1 year of age. These results indicate that steroids may have a beneficial effect on the course of pertussis if given early in the paroxysmal stage.
Can you take amoxicillin for whooping cough?
Pertussis disease is not a deadly disease, most cases are mild and not life threatening and results in aquiring a life-long immunity. If a child dies while having pertussis one has to look into its treatment. It has been demonstrated that amoxicillin and other antibiotics are not the appropriate treatment in pertussis.