Pertussis is a disease transmitted by bacteria, mostly caused by droplet transmission, and is more common in autumn or spring. This disease is not common and can now be prevented through vaccination. So, for what age children is pertussis targeted?
This disease is more common in infants and young children with low resistance to the virus, mainly in babies aged 1 to 6 years old. The common symptoms are similar to those of a cold, including coughing, runny nose, conjunctival congestion, and a certain degree of low-grade fever. Generally, it will gradually become severe within 3 to 4 days.
Pertussis gradually turns into a spasmodic cough, which is more severe at night and milder during the day. Long term coughing may be accompanied by the baby exhaling air or making some chicken crowing sounds. When such symptoms occur, timely treatment is necessary. If the treatment is not appropriate, it can last for 2 to 3 months or more. This is also the main reason why it is called pertussis.
Patients with pertussis are generally the source of infection for the bacteria, and their infectivity is strongest when they remain latent for 2 to 3 weeks. There will be infectivity from the incubation period to 6 weeks after the illness. If there are other babies at home, they need to be isolated. People nowadays use pertussis vaccines to prevent pertussis.
