Whopping cough / pertussis is a bacterial infection that gets into your nose and throat. Clear whooping cough from your life with these natural home remedies. Symptoms, treatment of vaccine-preventable lung infection. Whooping cough or pertussis is a contagious disease. A new born baby has no immunity to this disease, and can get it any time after birth. It commonly affects infants. In many cases it can occur in children up to 5 years of age or in some cases children up to 12 years. The disease may cause serious trouble in the lungs. This highly infectious bacterial disease. Hence spreads rapidly by droplet infection. It spreads rapidly during the early catarrhal stage. Once the typical spasmodic bout starts, the infectivity becomes negligible.
What is Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough is a communicable disease of respiratory system. It is a bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is a respiratory disease, which makes sound “whooph” while coughing. Direct contact with pertussis patient, droplet infection and use contaminated objects are the common ways, how it spreads. This bacterial infection many takes 7-14 days to show actual symptoms as incubation period of whooping cough bacteria is 7-14 days. This interesting fact is this bacteria can not survive for longer time outside the human body. Children above age 10, which are not immunized with DPT vaccine, are more likely prone to pertussis. Whooping cough causes local infection and mucosa inflammation.
Symptoms at Early Stage
Whooping cough is an acute, highly infectious, and quite serious illness which occurs mostly in children under the age of five. The incubation period of whooping cough is seven to ten days. Pertussis basically begins with a normal cold, which develops into a cough. The infection is bacterial and irritates the airways, hence causing them to become swollen and lined with thick, infected mucus. The coughing becomes severe, further with long bouts that have a characteristic “whoop” sound to them. Vomiting often accompanies the coughing. Whooping cough is more dangerous in infants, who can suffer anxiety from being unable to breathe normally. Infected patient must keep away from others as it is highly contagious disease. The younger the patient, the greater the risk of serious illness. Generally most deaths from whooping cough occur in the first six months of life.
Symptoms in Severe Case
Due to the severity of bouts of cough, bleeding can occur into the eyes, from the nose, the lung, and, in rare cases, into the brain, resulting in convulsions. In many young children, lung complications such as collapse of a part of the lung are common because of the thick sticky nature of the secretions blocking the passage of air to a part of the lung. Secondary infection may result in pneumonia. They may be convulsions, and, in rare cases, inflammation of the brain. In immunized children, the disease is mild and atypical. Because of mass vaccination of children, whooping cough is now relatively rare, affecting only a small proportion of the population.
Root Causes
Root cause is bacteria – Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis. Of these, the first one chiefly gives the rise to more severe infections. Various other viruses such as – adenovirus, para influenza and respiratory viruses are also causes of whooping cough. The actual cause of the disease, however, is wrong feeding of children with refined and demineralized foods and absence of a sufficient quantity of fresh fruits and salad vegetables in their dietary. This results in accumulation of excessive quantities of catarrh and mucus in the child’s system. The disease is an attempt on the part of the nature to throw out this catarrh and mucus. The use of drugs to treat other diseases can also lead to whooping cough.
Synonyms and Other Names
Whooping cough is known as pertussis or 100 days cough in some countries. It is also known as Kali khansi or Kukar Khansi in Hindi. Dangya khokala in Marathi, Kakkuvan irumal in Tamil, Koorinta Daggu in Telegu, and Villan Cuma in Malayalam. Some other names includes Bairike (Chinese), Tos ferina (Spanish), coqueluche (Portuguese), Hupim kasi (Bengali), Zakhlebyvayushchiysya kashel (Russian), and Batuk Rejan (Indonesian). This disease is also known as 100 days cough as it has prolonged course of 8 to 10 weeks. Treat whooping cough naturally with safe, effective remedies.
Whooping Cough Home Remedies
- Garlic Poultice: A garlic poultice very effective home remedy. Just place it on the chest and back area. This helps to expel the phlegm. Do not leave the poultice on for too long, because it can cause blistering. OR Peel few garlic cloves. Then grind and take out juice. Depend upon the cough severity adjust the dose from 5 drops to 1 table spoon, 2-3 times a day.
- Ginger: One more effective remedy is ginger. Take 2 cups of water, add 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds. Then bring it to boil and keep boiling till it becomes 1 cup. Finally, strain the mixture. In this water which is rich with fenugreek seeds extract add 1 tablespoon fresh ginger juice and honey to taste.
- Donkey’s Milk: Yes, donkey’s milk. This is a folk remedy for whooping cough.
- Onion: Mix together 10 drops of white onion juice, 10 drops of ginger juice and 5 drops of almond oil. Then give this mixture, 3 times a day for 15 days.
- Radish: Take 1 tablespoon fresh radish juice and add same amount of honey and pinch of crystal salt or rock salt in it. Take 3 times a day.
- Vekhand Herb: Mix a pinch of vekhand (Sweet Flag / Calamus / Acorus calamus) powder in a tablespoon of honey. Adjust dose for child depend upon the severity of the cough. This is good remedy for strong and frequent whooping cough attacks. Try another remedy with honey and licorice. Mix honey and licorice with a little hot water to make a drink to relieve the cough.
- Bakul Flowers: Take 1/4 cup of bakul (Mimusops elengi / Spanish cherry / Medlar / Bullet wood) flowers. Boil 2 cups of water and add flowers in it. Keep boiling till water becomes 1/2 cup. Finally, strain the water and add sugar (double as that of water). Take 1 tablespoon at a time, 4 times a day.
- Essential Oil: Mix a few drops of lavender and chamomile oils in a light carrier oil, and then massage into the chest and back area to calm, and to relax tensed muscles. Or try tea tree, lavender, chamomile, and eucalyptus in a vaporizer to help open up the lungs and reduce spasm. After the bath, massage a little comfrey ointment into the chest and back to relax and expand the lungs.
- Thyme: Thyme tincture is effective for whooping cough. Take few drops of thyme tincture and this will help to loosen and expel the mucus. Take 12g. thyme, 25g chamomile, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, a pinch of cayenne or ginger (optional). Make a decoction, reduce, and add sugar or honey. Thyme also works as an antiseptic. A few drops of thyme oil (with 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup baking soda optional), in the bath, will soothe and reduce the severity of the cough. Thyme is basically calming, salt and soda detoxify.
- Sundew: Sundew is another herb with soothing effect. You can try making a tea with one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Drink once a day. Sundew had used for hundreds of years to treat bronchitis, cough, and whooping cough. Especially dry, irritating coughs in children. Modern research has validated these uses, showing that this herb has expectorant, cough suppressing and bronchial soothing properties. Sundew is very successful in treating a number of bacterial infections, and also works to relax the muscles of the breathing tubes. Make into an infusion and take by the teaspoonful, as necessary.
- Coltsfoot: A combination of coltsfoot and elecampane can prevent the infection by strengthening the body and clearing phlegm. Coltsfoot is useful to loosen the cough and hence helps to expel the mucus. Make herbal tea with 1 teaspoon coltsfoot herbal mix. Add honey to taste and to sooth sore throats. But avoid excessive use of coltsfoot as it is unsafe. It contains chemicals called hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) hence can damage the liver.
- Stops Hacking Coughs: Here is an old Basque remedy common to the Pyrenees mountain range which runs along the French-Spanish border, quiets any kind of cough, from little nagging ones to the more serious hacking kinds such as whooping, smoker’s and asthmatic coughs. Take two large Spanish onions, peel them and then slice very thin. Place in a wooden bowl and nearly cover with two cups of dark honey. Next put a flat dish or board over the bowl and let set overnight. In the late morning, strain off the syrup and add to it a jigger of brandy. Bottle and refrigerate, taking 1 tsp. of the syrup every 2-3 hrs. or as needed to stop tickling of the throat and lungs as well as coughing.
- Folk Healing for Whooping Cough: Ivy is an old folk remedy for whooping cough. Take a pinch of dried ivy (0.3 gram) to relieve inflammatory conditions of the respiratory tract, including laryngitis. Ivy has expectorant action, and it helps minimize bronchial secretions that can cause cough and throat irritation.
- Natural Treatment That Works: For centuries, cultures around the world have used stinging nettle herb to treat nasal and respiratory troubles: coughs, runny nose, chest congestion, asthma, whooping cough and even tuberculosis. Some good research shows that nettle preparations may effectively treat allergic nasal symptoms.
- Allay the Spasmodic Cough: Hyssop and lobelia should be used to help allay the spasmodic cough. Hyssop inhalation is good for chest infections. Add 2 drops hyssop, 2 drops lavender, 2 drops benzoin to a bowl of steaming water. Cover your head with a towel, bend over the bowl, and inhale.
- Effective Cough Herb: Tea made from this herb is an old standby for coughs. Nettle also has a long history of use as a treatment for colds, whooping cough (pertussis) and tuberculosis. It’s certainly worth trying. A tea made from the leaves is effective for coughs and hay fever.
- Kill Bacterial Infection: Home Made Cough Syrup: The bark of the wild cherry has a profound effect on the cough reflex. Wild cherry contains chemicals that might help reduce swelling (inflammation) and have a drying (astringent) effect on the tissues. You can get ready made cough syrups in store that contains wild cherry bark.
- Elecampane is commonly used for children’s coughs, and can be purchased in easy-to-use syrup form.
- Mix 1 spoon turmeric powder and honey with 1 cup milk. And drink. Turmeric has antibacterial property and helps to avoid mucus formation in throat. If possible, boil turmeric in milk and drink it when it is still warm. Do this specifically before going to bed. This is good remedy to treat any kind of cough.
- Combine garlic paste, honey and apple cider vinegar, in 1:1:2 proportion, to make paste. If required add 1 spoon water. Take this syrup to treat cough.
- In 2 cups of water add 1 tablespoon full methi seeds. Bring it to boil. Continue till it reduces to 1 cup. Strain the liquid. Discard seeds. Add 1 teaspoon honey and ginger juice to liquid. Enjoy drinking when it is still warm. Ginger has antibacterial properties which helps to fight against pertussis bacteria.
- Mix ginger juice, lemon juice and onion juice in equal proportion and take it to treat pertussis.
- Garlic steam is also helpful for pertussis. Crush few garlic cloves and add into boiling water. Try inhaling this steam for better effect. Be careful while inhaling steam, there are chances that you could heart yourself with hot water.
- Reduce Bronchi Spasm: Red clover will help to reduce any spasm of the bronchi.
- Soothe Anxiety: Lemon balm tea will soothe anxiety.
Whooping Cough Prevention Tips
If you have a child, firstly check vaccination chart. Then consult with the doctor for booster shot if needed. Caution, as there is a risk of secondary infection, in particular pneumonia and bronchitis. If the cough is accompanied by vomiting, make sure there is adequate intake of fluid to prevent dehydration. Also call your physician if your child becomes blue around the lips. Whooping cough must treated by doctor.
FAQs.
Q. How long does whooping cough last?
The most severe symptoms of whooping cough usually last for 1-2 months, but the cough can last for up to 10 weeks or more.
Q. How do you get instant relief from whooping cough?
Unfortunately, there is no instant relief from whooping cough. Treatment for the infection includes antibiotics, rest, and plenty of fluids. If the cough is severe, a doctor may also prescribe a steroid medicine to help reduce inflammation. It is important to get medical attention for whooping cough as soon as possible to prevent further complications.
Q. Can whooping cough go away on its own? Can whooping cough be treated at home?
No. Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that requires medical treatment. It is important to seek medical care right away if you or a family member has symptoms of whooping cough. Treatment may include antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive care. Most cases of whooping cough will go away on their own, although it may take several weeks or months. It is important to seek medical care if the symptoms worsen or persist.
Q. How to test for whooping cough?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is usually diagnosed through a physical examination and a laboratory test. Physical examination usually involves listening to the patient’s breathing and looking for signs of coughing. The laboratory test requires a sample of mucus from the patient’s nose or throat, which is then tested for the bacteria that causes the infection. If the test is positive, treatment with antibiotics is usually recommended.
Q. What are the 3 stages of whooping cough?
Depends upon severity, whooping cough can have 3 different stages. First stage is mild, known as catarrhal, where patient could experience sneezing, mild cough, catarrhal inflammation, eye tearing, and loss of appetite. The second stage is known as paroxysmal stage. In paroxysmal stage patient can show symptoms like, rapid cough, continuous deep coughing, high pitched sound while coughing. At this stage in case of infant, small bluish skin patches can occur. This stage can lasts for 15 days to a month. This stage, which is actually a recovery stage known as convalescent stage. In this slow recovery starts with decreasing cough attacks. The whole process of onset of disease till recovery may take 3 – 4 months, hence known as 100 days cough.
- Catarrhal Stage: This is the initial stage of whooping cough and can last up to two weeks. Symptoms in this stage can include a runny nose, sneezing, mild fever, and a mild, occasional cough.
- Paroxysmal Stage: This stage can last up to six weeks and is when the coughing fits become more severe. The person may experience forceful coughing, followed by a high-pitched whoop sound as they try to take a breath.
- Convalescent Stage: This is the final stage of whooping cough and can last up to several weeks. During this stage, the coughing fits become less frequent and the person’s overall health improves.
Q. What is the best treatment for whooping cough (Pertussis)?
The best treatment for whooping cough (Pertussis) is antibiotics. Antibiotics are recommended for all individuals diagnosed with whooping cough, as well as those who have been in close contact with the infected individual. Antibiotics can help reduce the severity and duration of the symptoms and can help prevent the spread of the disease. In addition, immunization is the best way to prevent whooping cough. Vaccination is recommended for all infants and children, and a booster shot is recommended for adolescents and adults.
Q. How do you treat whooping cough at home?
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious disease that is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and can be life-threatening in young infants. There is no cure for whooping cough, but treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing complications. Treatment at home includes:
- Soothing fluids: Offer fluids to your child frequently to help soothe the throat and ease coughing.
- Humidifier: A humidifier can help your child breathe better.
- Cough suppressants: Over-the-counter cough suppressants can help relieve the coughing fits.
- Rest: Make sure your child gets plenty of rest to help their body recover.
- Antibiotics: A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help reduce the duration and severity of the infection.
Q. How do you prevent whooping cough naturally?
- Get vaccinated: The best way to prevent whooping cough is to get vaccinated. The vaccine is safe and effective, and it offers long-term protection against the disease.
- Practice good hygiene: Practicing good hygiene can help reduce the spread of whooping cough. Wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, and avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Boost your immune system: Eating a balanced diet and getting adequate rest can help boost your immune system, which may help protect against whooping cough.
- Use natural remedies: There are several natural remedies that may help reduce the severity of whooping cough symptoms. These include drinking plenty of fluids, taking a warm bath, and using a humidifier. Herbal remedies such as echinacea, elderberry, and garlic may also help.