It can be good news after a long time. According to the State Health Institute (SZÚ), doctors registered 1,266 new cases of whooping cough last week, which is about a fifth less than in the previous week. From the beginning of this year to Sunday, May 5, there were 12,239. However, compared to the whole of last year, when 494 cases were caught, this is still a high number. The disease does not have a serious course in the majority of those infected, 2.1 percent of patients require hospitalization. SZÚ informed about this in a press release today.
“Given the low number of people hospitalized with pertussis, it can be assumed that the disease does not have a serious course in most people. This also corresponds to the conclusions of many studies that in a well-vaccinated population, the disease usually proceeds with a mild course,” said Štěpánka Čechová, spokeswoman for the SZÚ, in a press release.
The low need for hospitalization is related to the age structure of the infectedroughly a third of them are between the ages of 15 and 19. “The median age is 20 years and is still decreasing,” the SZÚ further states. 161 children under the age of one, who cannot yet have their vaccinations completed, also became infected. 76 of them were treated in the hospital this year, i.e. almost half. “Treatment of pertussis in the smallest children should, given the possible serious complications of the disease and their rapid onset should always take place under supervision in a specialized medical facility,” wrote SZÚ.
Whooping cough or whooping cough is most often manifested by typical bouts of whooping, hoarse cough, which can last several weeks. Often there is an illness associated with vomiting, weight loss or general exhaustion. Violent coughing can even cause rib fractures, the formation of a hernia or urination.
Appear and infections with related bacteria. “Similar symptoms to pertussis, but usually milder, can cause i other species of bordetella bacteria,” said the spokeswoman of the SZÚ. The most common is Bordetella parapertussiswhich The SZÚ records 181 cases this year, also occurs Bordetella holmessi – in 12 cases, a Bordetella bronchiseptica – one case. “Against these three types of bastards vaccines do not protect. The treatment is the same as for whooping cough,” Čechová added.
Children are required to be vaccinated against whooping cough, without him nthey can, for example, be admitted to kindergarten. The interest in adult vaccination is currently many times higher than in previous yearsalthough vaccination nnot covered by public health insurance. Due to great interest in other countries, dtemporary lack of vaccinescurrently doctors can order them.
