Lao Cai: Two cases testing positive for whooping cough recorded.

According to a report from the Lao Cai Center for Disease Control, in May, the province recorded two cases of whooping cough in children. Both patients were hospitalized in critical condition, requiring mechanical ventilation and high-dose antibiotic treatment.

According to the epidemiological investigation, the two child patients, LTA, 17 months old, and THG, 3 months old, both residing in Duong Quy commune, Van Ban district, were admitted to the hospital in a state of acute respiratory failure, with paroxysmal coughing fits, very low SPO2 levels, and requiring mechanical ventilation.

After receiving information from the Lao Cai Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the Provincial Center for Disease Control collected samples from two suspected cases of whooping cough and sent them for diagnostic testing. On May 10, 2024, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology sent a test result confirming a positive result for the bacterium B. Pertussis (whooping cough bacteria).

Children with whooping cough are being treated at Lao Cai Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

Following the test results, the Provincial Center for Disease Control requested the Lao Cai Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital to arrange a suitable isolation treatment room for the two pertussis patients, both to ensure effective treatment and to maintain disease prevention and control measures, avoiding cross-infection.

After more than a week of intensive treatment, the child is out of critical condition, their health is gradually stabilizing, and they are currently in the recovery phase.

Vaccination is an effective measure to prevent whooping cough and many other infectious diseases.

To proactively prevent and control pertussis, the Provincial Center for Disease Control has issued a document announcing the results and requesting health units throughout the province to strengthen measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the community and cross-infection in hospitals. In particular, it requested the Van Ban District Health Center to coordinate with the Duong Quy Commune Health Station to continue strengthening surveillance and investigation of related cases; and to educate people to seek medical attention at health facilities when they show signs of pertussis. Along with this, it requested increased vaccination activities in Duong Quy commune, conducting a review and administering catch-up doses as soon as possible to those who have not been vaccinated or have not received all doses of the pertussis vaccine.

According to statistics from the Department of Preventive Medicine ( Ministry of Health ), in the first quarter of 2024, the whole country recorded 127 cases of whooping cough, a 7.9-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023. The disease mainly appeared in some provinces and cities in the northern region. The health sector advises that whooping cough is an acute infectious disease that can cause many dangerous complications. The most effective way to prevent the disease is to get vaccinated against whooping cough completely and on schedule.

Vaccination schedule for pertussis (whooping cough) in children:

- Complete all three doses of vaccines containing pertussis (whooping cough): In the Expanded Immunization Program, this is the SII vaccine (DPT-VGB-Hib) given to children at 2, 3, and 4 months of age, or other vaccines containing pertussis in private clinics such as Pentaxim, Hexaxim, and Infanix Hexa can be given as early as 6 weeks of age.

- Give a booster dose of pertussis vaccine when the child is 18-24 months old (DPT, Pentaxim, Hexaxim, Infanix Hexa).

Currently, vaccine supply is sometimes disrupted by the national expanded immunization program. Therefore, mothers need to closely monitor local immunization schedule announcements or take their children to private immunization facilities to ensure they receive all necessary vaccinations on schedule.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/lao-cai-ghi-nhan-2-ca-duong-tinh-voi-ho-ga-post384089.html