According to Dr. Michal Sutkowski of the College of Family Physicians, the root of the problem is a decline in interest in vaccinating children. The second problem is that the vaccination must be repeated every 10 years, something we don't know or forget.
- The disease can end up with powerful pulmonary complications, so it's important to get vaccinated once every 10 years. Pertussis must also be diagnosed quickly, this is also very important, Dr. Michal Sutkowski told TVP 3.
Pertussis is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory system of a recurrent nature caused by the pertussis bacillus Bordetella pertussis. The reservoir of the etiological agent is a human being, and the source of infection is a person suffering from a typical or atypical form of pertussis. Infection occurs by the airborne-droplet route, most often in family settings and clusters of children. The typical symptom of the disease in infants and children is a paroxysmal, "barking" cough with viscous discharge, while in adults it is a chronic cough.
In infants, coughing fits can end in complete breathlessness or convulsions. The period of resolution of the disease is characterized by a decrease in the severity and frequency of coughing and lasts about 2 weeks, but coughing can still persist for many weeks. Such a dynamic course of the disease as in infants and children does not occur in adolescents and adults. In these age groups, the disease takes the form of a chronic, agonizing cough that persists for many weeks. Periodically, the cough may take on a paroxysmal character. The cough is accompanied by excessive sweating, facial flushing, fainting, shallow breathing, in addition to fever, numbness in the back of the throat, sleep disturbances, headaches and muscle aches, sneezing and weakness.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not only children who get sick, but also adults, especially the elderly. It is worth mentioning that pertussis is characterized by a very high contagiousness.
