Pertussis In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Pertussis is a serious infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. It is also called whooping cough. With pertussis, air passages get plugged with thick sputum (spit) to cause coughing spells. Anyone can have pertussis but it is most serious in babies and young children. It may be treated with antibiotic medicine during the early part of the illness.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

• Medicines:
  
  
  • Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
    
    
  • Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.
  
  
• Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
  
  
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help your child fight an infection caused by a germ called bacteria.
  
  
• Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's Syndrome. This could lead to brain and liver damage. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.
  
  
• Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
  
  
• Your child's cough could last 10 weeks or longer. It may also be worse at night. Coughing helps keep sputum (spit) from clogging the lungs.
  
  
• Do the following if your child has a coughing spell:
  
  
  • Put him on his side in the crib or bed with his head to one side. This is a safe position because it will keep your child from choking if he vomits (throws up). You may also hold your child in a sitting position during a coughing spell.
    
    
  • Help your coughing child sit up and lean forward if he is older. This makes it easier to cough and bring up sputum from the lungs.
  
  
• Run a cool mist humidifier to increase air moisture in your child's room. Follow the humidifier instructions carefully for running and cleaning it. Keep the humidifier out of your child's reach. Using the humidifier will help ease your child's cough and make it easier for your child to breathe.
  
  
• Ask caregivers how much liquid your child should drink a day. Give him small amounts of liquids every hour, if possible, when he is awake, even if he has throat pain.
  
  
• Encourage your child to eat many small meals every day. Eating small meals may keep your child from vomiting after a coughing spell. To calm the stomach, wait a short while to eat after a coughing spell.
  
  
• Your child should rest as much as possible. Try to keep him calm. His breathing and coughing may become worse if he is crying and afraid.
  
  
• Ear infections in children are common with this illness. Signs of an ear infection are ear tugging, ear pain, or fever.
  
  
• Do not let anyone smoke around your child. His breathing and coughing may get worse if he is near smoke.
  
  
• Keep your child away from wood burning stoves or fireplaces. Smoke from these may also cause coughing spells.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child has a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• Your child is not drinking liquids.
  
  
• Your child's cough is getting worse.
  
  
• Your child is tugging his ears or has ear pain.
  
  
• Your child has been vomiting (throwing up) and cannot keep anything down.
  
  
• Your child is not sleeping or resting because of the cough.
  
  
• Your child has the following signs of dehydration:
  
  
  • Crying without tears.
    
    
  • Dizziness.
    
    
  • Dry or cracked lips.
    
    
  • Dry mouth or tongue.
    
    
  • Fussiness.
    
    
  • Sleepiness.
    
    
  • Soft spot on top of head may be sunken if your baby is less than 1 year.
    
    
  • Urinating less.
    
    
  • Wrinkled skin.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Call 911 or 0 (operator) if your child has trouble breathing.
  
  
• Following are some signs that your child is not getting enough oxygen:
  
  
  • Skin between ribs or above breast bone is sucked in with each breath.
    
    
  • Lips or fingernails are blue or white.
    
    
  • Nostrils (nose openings) are flaring (opening wider) with each breath.
    
    
  • Breathing faster than usual.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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