Whooping cough is an infectious bacterial illness. The disease is most contagious during the cold-like initial phase (catarrhal phase). In its early stages, pertussis is indistinguishable from the many colds common in children. However, after one or two weeks, the illness gets progressively worse. Worldwide there are over 60 million cases of pertussis a year with more than half a million deaths. Whooping cough is still a very serious disease when it occurs in children under the age of one year old. Pertussis can be fatal, but in the United States, widespread vaccination against the infection has made the disease rare. In the more advanced stages, it's marked by the symptom that gives the disease its name: a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop." It is spread by droplets from the respiratory tract, rarely it may also spread on clothes, toys, etc. Causes of Whooping Cough Bacterial infection is the reason for whooping cough. Inflammations make the wind pipe narrower, which causes a loud cough. Symptoms of Whooping Cough Gradually increasing cold, running nose, sneezing, fever, sore throat, loss of appetite and cough are the main symptoms of whooping cough. The coughs become louder (whooping) after a week of infection. Natural Remedies for Whooping Cough Licorice and Honey Take licorice root powder with honey three times a day. Not indicated for high blood pressure patients. Garlic Garlic is a remedy for whooping cough. Crush the cloves of garlic and extract the juice. Take 1 tsp of the juice twice a day. Ginger, Fenugreek & Honey Boil one tsp fenugreek seeds in a glass of water for about five minutes. Add one tsp of ginger juice and one tsp honey. Take this mixture two times a day. Honey Add a tsp of honey to a glass of boiled water. Drink this preparation three or four times a day. There is a danger that people with less severe, undiagnosed cases may spread the infection to infants who have not yet been immunized. Treatments of whooping cough is supportive, meaning that treatment is directed at the symptoms, e.g., cough; however, young infants often need hospitalization if the coughing becomes severe. This initial stage lasts for about one to two weeks. After this first two week period the cough changes character, with paroxysms of coughing followed by a "whooping" sound. Often times these coughing fits are followed by vomiting. This constant coughing and vomitting in several cases leads to malnutrition. Coughing fits gradually go away over the first one to two months. Other complications of the disease include pneumonia, encephalitis, pulmonary hypertension, and secondary bacterial superinfection.
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