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Pertussis Discharge Instructions, Child

sound. All people with this illness will make this sound. Pertussis tends to be worse in babies and children because their airways or breathing tubes are smaller. ‚  


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What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do for your child.
  • Give your child drugs as ordered by the doctor.
  • Make sure your child gets lots of rest.
  • Encourage your child to drink extra glasses of of water, juices mixed with water so they are not so sugary, or broth each day.
  • Use a cool mist humidifier to help keep the air tube moist and help with breathing.
  • Use 2 to 3 pillows when an older child is lying down to make it easier to breathe and sleep. Do not use pillows with babies.
  • You may use nose drops to ease stuffiness. If your child is younger and cannot blow, remove nose stuffiness by using a suction bulb.

What follow-up care is needed?


Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚  

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Treat an infection
  • Help the cough
  • Lower fever
  • Treat a runny nose

Will physical activity be limited?


Lots of coughing may prevent your child from doing normal activities. Your child may need more rest than usual. You may notice that exercise or playing makes your childs cough worse. Have your child avoid activities that make the cough worse. Ask the doctor what activities are best for your child. ‚  

What changes to diet are needed?


  • Give your child soft foods or liquids, like Jello, sherbet, or soup, if swallowing is too painful. Have your child eat small meals more often. This also makes vomiting less likely.
  • Do not give your child sports drinks, soft drinks, or other drinks that have too much sugar.

What problems could happen?


  • Hernia, broken rib, or broken blood vessels in the eye or face due to lots of coughing
  • Weight loss and poor nutrition

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • People who live with your child may need treatment. This may keep them from getting sick.
  • Get your child vaccinated. A vaccine is the best way to prevent infection.
  • For adults and older children, get a booster shot if you had pertussis vaccine when you were a child.
  • The germs are easily passed to others by sneezing, coughing, or touching other people. Practice proper hand washing. Have your child wash hands for 15 seconds or more with soap and warm water. Teach your child to sing the Happy Birthday song or the ABCs while washing hands. Hand washing is the best way to prevent infections.
  • Have your child cough into the elbow. This can prevent germs from being carried into the air.
  • Wipe surfaces with a disinfectant. Wipe door handles, telephones, and tables.
  • If you know that people in your community have pertussis, avoid crowded areas where you may be around sick people.

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum.
  • Trouble breathing
  • Turning pale or blue with coughing spells
  • Pain with breathing
  • Coughing up blood
  • Eating or drinking poorly for more than a few days
  • Less urine output (peeing less than 4 times a day)
  • Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or your child is feeling worse

Helpful tips


  • Do not let your child eat while lying down.
  • If your child is throwing up because of coughing, have your child wait a few minutes before eating.
  • Have your child eat smaller meals so your child is less likely to throw up.
  • Have your child avoid smoke and wood-burning stoves.

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my childs condition.
  • I can tell you what may help ease my child's breathing.
  • I can tell you what I can do to help my child avoid passing the infection to others.
  • I can tell you what I will do if my child has trouble breathing or turns pale or blue with coughing spells.

Where can I learn more?


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚  
http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/ ‚  
KidsHealth ‚  
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/lung/whooping_cough.html ‚  
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases ‚  
http://www.nfid.org/pertussis/ ‚  
National Organization for Rare Disorders ‚  
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/191/viewAbstract ‚  
Sounds of Pertussis ‚  
http://www.soundsofpertussis.com/ ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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