What is Whooping Cough?
Whooping Cough is aptly named after the condition of severe bouts of coughing that end in a somewhat “whooping” sound during inhalation. Another less common name for this disease is Pertussis as it is caused by bacteria like Bordetella Pertussis and Bordetella Parapertussis. The disease is more common in infants and young children than in adults.
This highly contagious bacterial infection affects the respiratory passages such as the nose, throat and the lungs. The uncontrollable coughing may lead to choking spells or vomiting too. It has been associated with a high mortality rate, especially involving infants. As a result, a vaccine to prevent this disease has been developed to reduce the annual number of deaths to a great extent.
In case the affected individual is not vaccinated or the disease occurs even after vaccination, then antibiotics are usually administered. Another safe and more preferred method of treatment is by the application of natural home remedies for Whooping Cough. These natural remedies are completely safe, cheap and easily available in the kitchen.
Causes and Symptoms of Whooping Cough
This contagious disease is usually spread by the contact or inhalation of the respiratory droplets spread in the air by the coughing or sneezing of an infected individual. The bacteria may also be present on the hard surfaces on which these tiny droplets might have landed. The disease may also be spread by contact with the body fluids (like nasal secretions) of the infected individual.
The initial symptoms of Whooping Cough resemble the symptoms of Common Cold. They include symptoms like sneezing, mild cough, runny nose and slight fever. Within a couple of weeks, the nasal congestion tends to become thicker resulting in severe upper respiratory congestion.
The next paroxysmal stage is characterized by vigorous coughing, up to 5-10 times during a single exhalation. The coughing spells may be followed by the typical high pitched “whooping” noise when taking a breath. The child may turn red or blue due to lack of oxygen. These bursts of coughing generally occur during the night and may result in vomiting, sore throat and a general feeling of tiredness.
The whooping sound is less common in adults. Depending on the intensity of the disease, this stage may last from a period of one to six weeks. The last stage is that of recovery and lasts for about two to three weeks. Less frequent or less severe coughing may still be present even months after the recovery stage. Severe cases may lead to pneumonia, seizure and even death.
Natural Home Remedies for Whooping Cough
• Taking a mixture of fenugreek decoction and ginger juice is one of the most highly recommended natural home remedies for Whooping Cough. To make fenugreek decoction, boil one teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in approximately 250 ml of water till the water content visibly reduces to half. Then strain and take one cup of this decoction mixed with one teaspoon of freshly extracted ginger juice. Some honey can also be added to this remedial mixture to improve the taste.
• Another effective natural cure for Whooping Cough is to have one teaspoon of freshly extracted garlic juice about two or three times per day till the disease gets cured. Inhaling the vapors of boiling water with garlic slices in it to get rid of congestion.
• Take five drops of almond oil, ten drops of ginger juice and ten drops of white onion juice. Regularly taking this mixture three times per day till at least two weeks is one of the most valuable natural home remedies for Whooping Cough Treatment.
• Regular intake of a mixture prepared from one teaspoon of fresh radish juice, one teaspoon of honey and some rock salt is a highly beneficial home remedy used in the treatment of this kind of respiratory infection. This natural remdy is sure to give encouraging results if taken at least 2-3 times in a day on a daily basis.
• Regular consumption of tea prepared from basil leaves and aniseed helps to prevent and reduce Whooping Cough.
• Add one tablespoon of carrot juice and some honey in warm water and drink it. This is one of the simplest yet effective therapeutic remedies for Whooping Cough.
• A combination of roasted calamus and honey is considered as one of the most trusted Whooping Cough remedies. Simply take a mixture of one teaspoon of honey added with a pinch of powdered and roasted calamus to heal the condition. The dosage can be reduced in case of smaller children.
Diet for Whooping Cough
Basically, the patient should be kept on an all fruit diet till the serious symptoms subside. Fruits help to build immunity and help reduce the infection. Fruit juices like that of oranges and grapes are also helpful. Plus, regular consumption of turmeric powder is highly beneficial in dealing with bacterial diseases resulting in infections.
Taking a cup of grape with one teaspoon of honey in it serves as one of the most efficient home remedies for Whooping Cough. An important preventive measure would be to avoid exposure to cold and moisture as these factors tend to worsen the symptoms.
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