Whooping Cough Symptoms

Can whooping cough cause broncitis or worse?
(19 Mar 2009)

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Whooping cough is medically known as pertussis, starts as a normal cold and cough that rapidly deteriorates into a severe hacking cough. The condition is known as whooping cough because the cough is followed by an intake of breath which seems as though the patient said “whoop.” An extremely contagious condition, it normally affects children and adolescents and makes it difficult for them to breathe, eat and swallow anything.

The micro-organisms Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis are responsible for whooping cough and the main causes for this condition are broncho-pneumonia, contamination by contact with an already sick person or infections of the middle ear. The main symptoms of whooping cough include cold with a runny nose and sneezing, sore throat, fever, loss of appetite and fatigue, but the main symptom is a persistent cough which often ends in vomiting. Though complications are not common, whooping cough can lead to pneumonia or a lung infection known as bronchiectasis.

In infants whooping cough is more severe and they can go red or blue in the face during a coughing spasm, which can even lead to sudden cessation of the breath and consequent death.

There are several simple home remedies that help to control and treat whooping cough. Garlic and ginger are both beneficial for treating whooping cough. You can consume approximately 1 tsp of garlic juice 2 to 3 times a day and more frequently if the cough is severe. Similarly 1 tsp of ginger juice added to a decoction of fenugreek with 1 tsp of honey to improve the taste can be consumed twice a day to clear the mucus accumulated in the throat. A small piece of ginger that has been dipped in rock salt and lemon juice should be kept handy in an airtight container. Licking on this during a coughing attack is beneficial in controlling the cough. Alternately you mix 10 drops each of the juice of ginger and onion with a few drops of almond oil and have this twice a day. Onion by itself is also beneficial for whooping cough and you can have 1tsp of freshly extracted onion juice with 1 tsp honey twice a day. 1 tsp each of radish juice and honey taken with a little rock salt is also excellent for treating whooping cough. You can also boil 1 cup of milk with 3 grams of powdered turmeric and honey to taste and drink this twice a day to clear the mucus and soothe the throat and chest. Apart from this, it important to get fresh air but at the same time you should stay warm and avoid exposure to the wind and cold to avoid aggravation of the cough.

answered by G R on 19 Mar 2009, 1:10:38

Whooping Cough Symptoms

Can whooping cough cause broncitis or worse? (19 Mar 2009)

Can whooping cough cause broncitis or worse?
(19 Mar 2009)