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.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

RISKS:

Pertussis is very easily spread to others. If your child has not had the DPaT shots, he may get pertussis. Pertussis may cause other serious health problems, more often in children less than one year. Your child could get pneumonia or an ear infection. Rarely, it may affect your child's brain. This could cause your child to have seizures (convulsions) which may lead to brain damage. Complications (problems caused by having pertussis) such as these may cause your child to die. Follow your caregiver's instructions. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about the medicine or your child's care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

• Blood gases: These tests are also called arterial blood gases (ABGs). Blood is taken from an artery usually in your child's wrist. ABGs may be done if your child has trouble breathing or other problems caused by his illness.
  
  
• Blood tests: Your child may need blood taken for tests. The blood may be taken from your child's arm, hand, finger, foot, heel, or IV. Blood tests can give caregivers more information about your child's health condition. Your child may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• Chest x-ray: This is a picture of your child's lungs and heart. Caregivers use it to see how your child's lungs and heart are doing. Caregivers may use the x-ray to look for signs of infection (such as pneumonia) or other problems.
  
  
• Emotional support: You may stay with your child for comfort and support. Your child may need to stay in the hospital for more than a day. Ask caregivers if another family member can stay with your child when you cannot be there. Bring in something from home that your child likes. Your child may like to have his favorite blanket, toy, or clothing with him.
  
  
• Wash your hands and your child's hands often. This will help prevent the spread of germs. Encourage everyone in your house to wash their hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom. Also wash hands after changing diapers and before preparing or eating food.
  
  
• Heart and Breathing Monitor: This may also be called a cardiorespiratory monitor. It is a painless test to see how your child's heart and lungs are working.
  
  
  • Sticky pads (3 or 5) are placed on different parts of the body. Each pad has a wire that is hooked to a TV-type screen. This screen shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Caregivers watch this tracing to make sure our child's heart is doing well.
    
    
  • The monitor has alarms which go off if your child's heart is beating too fast or too slow. The alarm will also go off if your child is breathing too fast or too slow.
  
  
• IV: An IV is a tiny tube placed in your child's vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.
  
  
• Medicines: Your child will get antibiotics if he is in the early part of pertussis. Antibiotics may also be used if your child has another infection, like an ear or lung infection. Cough medicines are not helpful to treat the pertussis cough.
  
  
• Oxygen: Your child may need oxygen to help him breathe easier. Your child may need a nasal cannula (small tubes placed in the nose) or mask. Many children do not like having these on their face, so caregivers may place the mask next to your child's face. Some children are placed in an oxygen tent or plastic hood. Do not take off your child's oxygen without asking your child's caregiver first.
  
  
• Postural drainage (PD): This treatment uses body position and gravity to help bring up sputum (mucus) from your lungs. Your caregiver will place you in different positions to help the sputum drain to larger air passages. Then you can cough it out more easily. During postural drainage, your caregiver may also lightly clap on your back and chest with their hands, or use a small machine that vibrates on your skin. This breaks up the sputum in your lungs, making it easier to cough up. Postural drainage may make it easier for you to breathe, decrease the chance of infection, and help you get better faster.
  
  
• Pulse oximeter: A pulse oximeter is a machine that tells caregivers how much oxygen is in your child's blood. A cord with a clip or sticky strip is placed on your child's foot, toe, hand, finger, or earlobe. The other end of the cord is hooked to a machine. Tell a caregiver if the sticky strip or clip comes off of your child. The machine will alarm if the machine cannot read the oxygen level or if your child needs more oxygen. Tell a caregiver if the machine is alarming. Never turn the pulse oximeter off.
  
  
• Room: Your child will be kept away from others to keep from spreading the disease. Caregivers and others around your child will wear a face mask and gown. This may cause your child to be afraid.
  
  
• Suction: This is a small tube that is placed in your child's mouth or nose. It will help suck out the mucus (fluid) in your child's mouth or nose. This can help your child breathe easier. Saline drops may be put into your child's nose to loosen up some of the mucus. Your child may need to be suctioned more than once to make sure all of the mucus is out.
  
  
• Vital signs: This includes taking your child's temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting his heartbeat), and respirations (counting his breaths). To take your child's blood pressure, a cuff is put on his arm and tightened. The cuff is attached to a machine which gives your child's blood pressure reading. Caregivers may listen to your child's heart and lungs by using a stethoscope. Your child's vital signs are taken so caregivers can see how he is doing.

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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