470-All About Whooping Cough Home Remedies
Whooping Cough Home Remedies. »Discover effective home remedies for whooping cough using natural treatments to relieve symptoms .
What Is Whooping Cough (Pertussis)?
Whooping cough, medically referred to as pertussis, is a respiratory infection characterized by severe coughing fits. In more serious cases, these coughing episodes can become violent and rapid, often leading to vomiting. The term « whooping cough » is derived from the unique sound produced when an individual attempts to inhale after a prolonged coughing spell. This illness is highly transmissible and can impact individuals of any age. However, it poses a significant risk to unvaccinated infants. Alarmingly, nearly 50% of infants under one year old who contract whooping cough may require hospitalization.
READ MORE
Symptoms by Stage : Whooping Cough Home Remedies
Whooping cough progresses through three distinct stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent. If you or your child are affected, you will notice varying symptoms throughout these stages.
Stage 1: Catarrhal
The catarrhal stage marks the onset of whooping cough and generally lasts between one to two weeks. During this initial phase, the following symptoms may be observed:
– Runny or congested nose – Sneezing – Mild cough – Low-grade fever – General malaise or a sense of unwellness – Apnea in infants (temporary cessation of breathing)
It is crucial to recognize that these symptoms can often be confused with those of a common cold, making early diagnosis of whooping cough challenging.
Stage 2: Paroxysmal
The paroxysmal stage represents the most intense phase of whooping cough. This stage typically lasts from one to six weeks, although some individuals may experience symptoms for as long as ten weeks.
Symptoms during the paroxysmal phase include:
– Severe, uncontrollable coughing fits –
The characteristic « whooping » sound when inhaling after coughing –
Vomiting –
Profound fatigue
These episodes can be particularly distressing, especially for infants and young children.
Stage 3: Convalescent
The convalescent phase is the final stage of whooping cough and usually lasts two to three weeks.4 During this recovery phase, the intensity and frequency of coughing episodes gradually decrease and the overall symptoms begin to improve.
However, people may be at risk for other respiratory infections for many months after they experience whooping cough. In particular, infants—especially those who have not completed vaccinations or are too young to become vaccinated—are vulnerable to severe complications from whooping cough. That said, talking to your child’s healthcare provider about when to receive the whooping cough vaccine is crucial to prevent and manage this infection.
Centers for Disease Control. Pregnancy and whooping cough. Deadly disease for babies.
Causes : Whooping Cough Home Remedies
Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. This bacterium causes a highly contagious respiratory infection that primarily affects your airways, throat, and lungs. You can contract this type of bacteria through respiratory droplets or germs when someone with whooping cough sneezes, coughs, or breathes near another person.
In some cases, you may contract whooping cough by touching a surface contaminated with the bacteria and then touching your nose or mouth.1 Once you develop whooping cough, you remain contagious for approximately two weeks after the onset of coughing. Keep in mind: you are at a higher risk of transmitting the infection to others during this time period.
Diagnosis
If you or your child has symptoms of whooping cough, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for testing. They can use a variety of tests to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and get you started on treatment to relieve symptoms. The process of diagnosing whooping cough may involve the following exams:
- Medical history questionnaire to learn about your symptoms
- Physical exam to assess your body for visible signs of the infection
- Mucus swab from the back of the throat to detect the presence of the pertussis bacteria
Treatment
If you receive a diagnosis for whooping cough, your healthcare provider will likely recommend a combination of treatments including antibiotics and supportive care. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary—particularly for infants or young children with serious symptoms. The goals of treatment are to relieve your symptoms, prevent complications from occurring, and reduce your risk of spreading the infection to someone else.
Your treatments may include:
- Antibiotics: May include taking oral pills of Zithromax (azithromycin), EryPed (erythromycin), or Klaricid (clarithromycin)
- Supportive care: Involves getting plenty of rest, increasing your intake of clear fluids, avoiding irritants that can trigger or worsen coughing, and eating smaller meals to help prevent vomiting
How to Prevent Whooping Cough : Whooping Cough Home Remedies
Those who are at an increased risk of contracting whooping cough are people who have not yet received the whooping cough vaccine, known as the Tdap vaccine (for adults) or DTaP vaccine (for children). To lower your risk of getting whooping cough, consider vaccination as a means to protect yourself against the infection and prevent spreading the infection to others.8
It’s important to note that healthcare providers generally administer the DTaP vaccine to young children as part of their pediatric vaccination schedule. However, a booster vaccine called Tdap is recommended for adolescents and adults.9
If you or a loved one live with someone who develops whooping cough, you can also ask your healthcare provider for post-exposure antimicrobial prophylaxis for whooping cough—a type of medication that can prevent you from developing symptoms after being exposed to the infection. This medication can be especially useful for those who are unvaccinated.
Complications
Whooping cough can lead to several complications, particularly in infants and young children. The severity of complications can vary, but they can be serious and sometimes life-threatening.11 When left untreated, whooping cause can cause the following complications in babies and children:11
- A temporary stop in breathing, known as apnea
- Pneumonia
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Encephalopathy, a disease that causes decreased blood flow to the brain
Adolescents and adults typically experience different complications. Alongside severe coughing fits, you may also experience the following:11
- Loss of consciousness
- Fractured ribs from coughing
- Unintentional weight loss
- Loss of bladder control
What are the home remedies for whooping cough?
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The disease affects the inner lining of the airways such as the trachea and bronchi and can spread quickly through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. It affects children and infants and adults alike.
This infection is highly dangerous in babies and may need immediate medical attention. While there are many over the counter medications available, you can also try some simple home remedies to keep them at bay.
Ginger:
Ginger is an excellent remedy to stop the recurrence of whooping cough. It also has antibacterial immune-boosting properties that help fight the infection and also promote quick recovery. To use it, extract a tablespoon of ginger juice and mix it with raw honey. Take this twice a day for a few days.Alternatively, you can also boil fenugreek seeds and add a few drops of freshly extracted ginger juice. Mix well and drink it. You can feel the relief within a few days of drinking it.
Turmeric:
Turmeric too has antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help in treating whooping cough. It even has a therapeutic effect on coughs and is better if taken at night before sleep. To make this, mix a tablespoon of raw honey and ½ teaspoon of fresh turmeric powder.Intake it twice a day. Alternatively, you can mix it with a glass of warm milk and drink it twice a day to ease the symptoms.
Garlic:
Garlic is a natural antibiotic to fight whooping cough. It has enough antibacterial and antiviral properties to make it an effective fighting agent against whooping cough. To use it, take a teaspoon of fresh garlic juice twice a day for about a week. You can even inhale the vapours.Boil some garlic in water and cover your head with a blanket or towel and inhale the effects for immediate relief.
Saltwater:
Salt water helps in killing the bacteria that is present. It breaks down the secretions and helps to soothe whooping cough, relieving you of the pain. Mix a small teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle with that solution every three hours.
Proper rest:
Proper rest helps to boost the body immune system which in result make the body immune efficient to fight against the infection.
Fluids:It is important to stay hydrated, keep drinking plenty of water. You should drink plenty of warm liquids, to soothe the throat.
Almond:Almonds contain a compound called polyphenols which helps to fight against bacteria and help in curing whooping cough. Eat 6-7 soaked almonds daily.
Green Tea:Green tea is known to possess antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. It helps to fight against the bacteria causing whooping cough. Try to drink green tea at least twice a day.
Honey:Honey is soothing to the throat, which makes it perfect to treat a dry cough. You can add honey and drink this once a day until a dry cough subsides.
Onion:Onion possesses antibacterial properties which help to fight against the infection.
