2023-06-18 13:17:00
A four-month-old baby is hospitalized in serious condition at the “Assuta” public hospital in Ashdod after contracting whooping cough. The baby underwent tests at the health fund, which proved the presence of the disease, and as the disease worsened, and in particular breathing difficulties manifested in respiratory distress and coughing to the point of jaundice (decreased oxygen in the blood) – it was decided to take him to the hospital.
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Upon his admission to the hospital on Wednesday, the baby was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit headed by Dr. Naa Rosenfeld, where he was treated with antibiotics and non-invasive ventilation.
The hospital reported that in recent days there has been an improvement in the baby’s respiratory distress, but he is still suffering from a very severe cough and continues to be treated in the intensive care unit.
The hospital would like to point out that an early vaccination of the mother during pregnancy for whooping cough would have prevented the current situation.
Dr. Noa Rosenfelddirector of pediatric intensive care and the attending physician: “The pertussis vaccines are extremely important and life-saving vaccines. The younger the baby, the higher the chances of death and the severe damage to the brain and heart is irreversible. I urge all parents not to take a risk and get all the required vaccines before and after birth “.
Dr. Maya Khaled-Akivaa specialist in infectious diseases in children from the Ashdod “Assuta” public hospital, said that “Whooping cough is a disease caused by a bacterium and can be prevented by routine vaccinations and vaccination of the mother during pregnancy. The pertussis bacterium attacks the respiratory system and causes children and adults to have coughing fits that last for weeks and even several months”.
She added that “in newborns and infants, it can cause a very serious illness and even death. One in five babies with whooping cough under the age of two months will be hospitalized and one in 100 babies under the age of two months with whooping cough will die from the complications of the disease. The antibiotic treatment given during the diagnosis phase does not significantly change the course of the disease Therefore, vaccination and prevention of the disease is of great importance.”
Ministry of Health He said that “recently there has been an increase in pertussis cases in Israel. The vaccine given to babies starting at the age of six weeks provides protection against several diseases, including whooping cough and polio. In view of the risk of morbidity in newborns until they reach the age at which they can be vaccinated, it is important that pregnant women receive a vaccine in the third trimester of pregnancy and in this way protect their children by transferring the antibodies in the placenta. A vaccinated child is a protected child. The Ministry of Health emphasizes the importance of giving routine vaccinations against infectious diseases, some of which may cause severe complications and death. Adherence to routine vaccinations is important in order to prevent outbreaks of illness among children and their environment.”
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