Whooping cough: the ‘mysterious’ disease that sickened Kogui children, according to the INS

The National Institute of Health of Colombia (INS) reached a conclusion on the alleged mysterious virus in the Taminaka reservation of the Kogui ethnic group that, according to indigenous leaders, has killed dozens of children and has another 17 hospitalized.

The children of the community —who are cared for by the Gonawindua indigenous IPS, two days’ walk from the municipality of Palomino (La Guajira)— underwent tests to determine the pathology that caused symptoms such as diarrhea, cough, dry mouth, lack of appetite, and vomiting.

The PCR samples were sent to the INS National Reference Laboratory, where they were analyzed and it was found that no virus is implicated in the illness of these children. In fact, it is the bacterium bordetella pertussisresponsible for whooping cough.

In hot, humid climates, the bacteria bordetella pertussis it proliferates, travels through the air and enters the respiratory tract of people. When it settles in the trachea and bronchi, the infection causes a heavy and prolonged cough, wheezing and choking, in addition to other typical symptoms of a common cold. Sometimes the cough is so heavy that it causes gagging and vomiting.

Although anyone can get whooping cough, children under five years of age are especially vulnerable to developing complications in the nervous system or sequelae in the respiratory system. With a more robust immune system, like that of adults, the probability of recovering without complications is much higher.

However, no child in Colombia should suffer from whooping cough: vaccines against bordetella pertussis have been around for 80 years and are part of the basic national vaccination scheme. To prevent whooping cough, the DPT vaccine is used, which also prevents diphtheria and tetanus.

The DPT vaccine is given to children in five doses: at two, four and six months, at one and a half years and at five years. In addition, children can receive it in the same session with other vaccines for serious diseases, such as polio and hepatitis B. Pregnant women also receive TDaP, a vaccine that protects against the same three diseases.

In addition to the fact that the health center is too far from the Taminaka community, the Colombian government had already reported that there were drops in basic childhood vaccination due to quarantine periods.

In any case, children affected by the bacteria had not been vaccinated: they did not have vaccination reports in the system and their caregivers accepted that they had not been inoculated.

In its statement, the INS lamented the situation that minors are going through. It also asks the indigenous communities and Benefit Management Companies (EAPB) to ensure the vaccination of this population to prevent these outbreaks from recurring.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the IPS will be able to enter the shelter between this Wednesday, March 23 and April 2, to continue attending to minor cases and take action on the situation, since natural medicine and prayers had no effect against the ferocious bacteria, which leaves about 61 thousand dead in the world every year.

Of the 17 children who are hospitalized, five are in intensive care units and 12 also have acute malnutrition. All are receiving antibiotic treatment and are recovering satisfactorily.

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