Whooping cough also known as pertussis, is one of the most serious of the classic childhood ailments. The illness is a highly contagious bacterial infection that attacks the throat and lungs and is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing. Because of wide spread immunization whooping cough is less common among children in the United States. Those who do get it are most often infants and children under 4 who haven't had shots to prevent it. Even if they had shots some teenagers and adults can get it. This is usually because the vaccine is only 80% effective.
Symptoms for the Whooping Cough:
First stage (1 or 2 weeks)
- Running nose and sneezing
- Dry cough
- Low fever (101 degrees)
Second stage (2 to 10 weeks)
- Frequent, severe coughing, spasms followed by the whooping sound
- Small babies can have repeated fits of cough
- Red or blue face while coughing. If the child turns blue or stops breathing call 911 and give CRP.
- Vomiting is sometimes followed by the coughing fits
Third stage (may last for a month)
- Cough that becomes less frequent and severe
Whooping Cough Prevention:
- Starting with the age of 2 months, a child should get shots against whooping cough
- Your doctor may advise preventive anti-biotics for the house mates or schoolmates of the child who has whooping cough, even if they have been immunized
- Don't expose your child to anyone who has whooping cough.
- Call the doctor immediately if the child has been exposed to someone who has whooping cough even if he or she has been immunized
Home remedies for whooping Cough:
Listed below are some of the primary Home remedies for whooping Cough:
- Keep your child calm
- Give lots of liquids to prevent dehydration. Water and juices can be a good choice
- Make sure your child gets enough to eat. Frequent small meals may reduce the chance of vomiting
- Even though whooping cough can be very tiring and the child may not feel like eating, it is important to keep him or her well nourished
- To keep a baby from inhaling mucus while coughing, place the child on his or her stomach with the head turned to the side
- Don't give your child a cough suppressant as it may prevent the clearing of mucus from the blocked airways
- Give acetaminophen for pain relief
If natural home remedies can't cure, call a doctor when:
- If your child turns blue or stops breathing during or after coughing
- If your child's cough becomes more severe and frequent
