‘Change in symptoms, some need intensive care’ – Times of India

KOLKATA: In view of the increase in cases, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics has recommended a booster dose, containing the pertussis component. At present, children are given the booster shot of only tetanus and diphtheria when they turn 10.
FOSGI (The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India) has also recommended a full DTP shot during pregnancy instead of only one for tetanus, which is the current norm.
Whooping cough gets its name from the heavy wheezing sounds that a patient makes while trying to breathe in between coughs. It is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella Pertussis. “There is a resurgence of pertussis in pockets globally, and we are getting cases in our hospital as well,” said Giri.
“Currently, we have a 10-year-old girl who is in ICU with a very bad case of pneumonia. A PCR test has confirmed pertussis,” he added. “There seems to be a paradigm change in the symptoms, where some of the infected now have symptoms resembling that of viral pneumonia or viral bronchiolitis. Some even have very critical pertussis, requiring intensive care.”
Doctors said the bacterium can only be detected by a “virus panel test”, which is costly and hence tests are restricted. Paediatrician Sumita Saha of Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, said: “Only last week, we had to admit a 15-year-old boy for unresolved and uncontrollable cough, which turned out to be pertussis. With so many cases of chronic cough around, there could be a lot more cases of undiagnosed whooping cough, as we don’t test all of them.”