Whooping cough which antibiotic

Clinicians should choose the antimicrobial after consideration of the. Macrolides erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin are preferred for the treatment of pertussis in persons 1 month of age and older.

For infants younger than 1 month of age, macrolides should be used with caution as an association between orally administered erythromycin and azithromycin with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis IHPS has been reported.

However, azithromycin remains the drug of choice for treatment or prophylaxis of pertussis in very young infants because the risk of developing severe pertussis and life-threatening complications outweigh the potential risk of IHPS.

Clinicians should monitor infants younger than 1 month of age who receive a macrolide for the development of IHPS and for other serious adverse events. For persons 2 months of age and older, an alternative to macrolides is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. View photos of an infant getting treatment for pertussis in the hospital. On March 12, , the Food and Drug Administration FDA issued a warning external icon that azithromycin can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm in some patients.

Azithromycin remains one of the recommended drugs for treatment and chemoprophylaxis of pertussis, but consider using an alternative drug in those who have known cardiovascular disease, including:. Elderly patients and patients with cardiac disease may be more susceptible to the effects of arrhythmogenic drugs on the QT interval. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Pertussis Whooping Cough. Section Navigation. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics. Many experts believe that antibiotics are most effective in shortening the length of the infection when they're given in the first stage of the illness, before coughing spells begin. But even if antibiotics are started later, they're still important because they can stop the spread of the pertussis infection to others.

Ask your doctor whether preventive antibiotics or vaccine boosters for other family members are needed. Some kids with whooping cough need to be treated in a hospital. Babies and younger children are more likely to be hospitalized because they're at greater risk for problems like pneumonia.

Whooping cough can be life-threatening for infants younger than 6 months, so they almost always need hospital treatment. Other potential complications include difficulty breathing, periods of apnea, needing oxygen particularly during a coughing spell , and dehydration. While in the hospital, a child may need suctioning to clear the airways.

Breathing will be watched closely, and oxygen given if needed. Intravenous IV fluids might be needed if a child shows signs of dehydration or has difficulty eating. Precautions will be taken to prevent the infection from spreading to other patients, hospital staff, and visitors.

If your child is being treated for pertussis at home, follow the schedule for giving antibiotics exactly as your doctor prescribed. Giving cough medicine probably will not help, as even the strongest usually can't relieve the coughing spells of whooping cough. The cough is actually the body's way of trying to clear the airways.

Due to potential side effects, cough medicines are never recommended for children under age 6. During recovery, let your child rest in bed and use a cool-mist vaporizer to help soothe irritated lungs and breathing passages. Be sure to follow directions for keeping it clean and mold-free. And keep your home free of irritants that can trigger coughing spells, such as aerosol sprays; tobacco smoke; and smoke from cooking, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves.

Kids with whooping cough may vomit or not eat or drink much because of the coughing. So offer smaller, more frequent meals and encourage your child to drink lots of fluids. Watch for signs of dehydration, including thirst, irritability, restlessness, lethargy, sunken eyes, a dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, crying without tears, and fewer trips to the bathroom to pee or in infants, fewer wet diapers.

Call the doctor if you think that your child has whooping cough or has been exposed to someone with whooping cough, even if your child has already had all scheduled pertussis immunizations.

Select your location to view local American Lung Association events and news near you. Our service is free and we are here to help you. Pertussis Treatment and Prevention. Section Menu. How Is Pertussis Treated? Pertussis Prevention. Learn More. Previous: Pertussis Symptoms and Diagnosis. Make a Donation Your tax-deductible donation funds lung disease and lung cancer research, new treatments, lung health education, and more.

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