Category: Ayurvedic Treatment Methods
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Whooping Cough and its Ayurvedic Treatment


Medical Name: Pertussis

What is the Whooping Cough ?

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs which is caused by a bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is a very contagious disease which causes coughing with little or no fever. The coughing may be so severe that it leads to vomiting and aspiration.

This infection is usually begins with a cold and a mild cough and effects the respiratory tract and the lungs. After that the disease eventually converts to severe coughing and many persons make a whoop sound after the person breathes in after coughing. Initially when there was no vaccination available to cure whooping cough, almost three out of every four children who suffered from the disease, died. Now today the condition has improved a lot and only a few people suffer from whooping cough.

Pertussis may occur to any person at any age, but it is very common in un immunized infants under one year age. So early immunization to small children is very important (usually at age of 1 or 2 months), as it can help to prevent very serious disease to occur in small babies.

It is now believed that adults who had been given vaccination when they were child, and their vaccinations are no longer effective and whose symptoms are less diagnostic may be the carriers for whooping cough, so they must be given a booster vaccination at age of 11- 12 years, so as to help them to fight from the disease properly.



Symptoms of Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Medical Name: Pertussis

What are the symptoms of the whooping cough?

Symptoms of whooping cough usually appear in 7-10 days of infection, but in some cases rare cases it may also take up to 21 days to occur. Once the symptoms start appearing, they remain for at least 2 weeks, and you must keep your child away from others as this disease is highly contagious and anyone could be easily caught. Child may even experience vomiting in some severe cases:

Once the symptoms of Pertussis have been started, there may be attacks of a choking cough, there may be 10-15 consecutive coughs before a breath is taken. This is followed by a sudden intake of air and a whooping sound as air is inhaled. Between these attacks of coughing the child appears perfectly well. These choking attacks vary according to seriousness of patient's condition. These attacks may be as little as twice a day or as many as fifty.

Some of the common symptoms of Whooping Cough are:

1) Runny Nose.
2) Sneezing.
3) Mild Cough.
4) Mild Fever - or no fever at all in early stages.
5) Sore Throat.
6) Tears.
7) Tiredness.
8) Loss of Appetite.
9) Night Cough.

Adults and adolescents either don't suffer from whooping cough, and if they are suffering then have very mild symptoms, such as a prolonged cough without the coughing spells or the whoop.



Whooping Cough Causes

Medical Name: Pertussis

What are the causes of the whooping cough ?

Whooping cough is a serious bacterial infection which is caused by Bordetella pertussis or B. parapertussis bacterium. This can cause inflammation that narrows breathing tubes in your lungs. This narrowing leaves you gasping for air (resulting in sucking of air with a high-pitched "whoop" ) just after frequent coughing.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease and spreads from person to person very easily through direct contact. It can easily be spread through the droplets of an infected person which come from the mouth of infected person when he coughs or sneezes or talks. Coughing adolescents and adults (usually not recognized as having pertussis) are the major reservoir for Bordetella pertussis and are the usual sources for the initial case in infants and children.

Persons treated with antibiotics are contagious until the first 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment have been completed.

Initially Pertussis was only thought to be a disease occurring in children, but recent studies have shown that adults are also becoming susceptible to whooping cough and share a part of 25% of cases. The disease, however, tends to be in its mild form in adults-often just a persistent cough that is much like an upper respiratory infection or cold. Because of this fine distinction, the diagnosis of whooping cough is frequently missed in adults and thus allows the bacteria to spread to more susceptible infants and children.




Herbal and Home Remedies for the treatment of Whooping Cough (Pertussis)



Medical Name: Pertussis

Aloe Vera Juice - Mix equal parts of aloe vera juice and honey and take a tablespoon or two before you suspect an attack for whooping cough. Good for a smoker's cough.

Alfalfa Leaves - Alfalfa leaves have wonderful healing powers that can prevent heart disease, lower cholesterol and help prevent strokes, overall helping to prevent whooping cough.

Comfrey - Take a comfrey tea for dry persistent coughs.
Caution : It should not be taken for long term use as it may cause liver damage.

Almond Oil - Almond oil is also a good remedy for curing pertussis. Mix Five drops of almond oil with ten drops of fresh white onion juice and ginger juice. This mixture can be taken three times a day.

Honey - Add a tablespoon of honey to a glass of boiling water and drink as needed. This will give a soothing effect to the throat and will help to cure whooping cough fast.

Ginger - 10ml of ginger juice with equal quantity of honey may provide relief to whooping cough, you may take it two times daily.

Calamus - A pinch of the powder of the roasted calamus can be given with a teaspoon of honey. This will provide relief in whooping cough to the patient. Being antispasmodic, it prevents severe bouts of coughing. For smaller children, the dose must be proportionately smaller.

Licorice Root - Take 5 grams of Licorice Root and powder it. This can be taken three times daily with honey. You can also make a decoction by using ½ teaspoon of powdered root to one cup of water, and drink three cups daily.
Licorice Root gives soothing to your throat and contains anti-inflammatory properties, and is an expectorant. Do not use if you have high blood pressure.

Castor Oil - You may take castor oil by mixing it with cow's milk. This will help you treat whooping cough fast.

Onion: A syrup prepared by combining 1 tablespoon raw onion juice with 1 tablespoon of honey is very beneficial for curing whooping cough. Take 1 teaspoon of it daily.

 

 

All the above articles / blog posts are not the original contribution from author, please consider a opinion of qualified doctor, if you considering this. usage of medicine without proper advice may injurious to your health. If you need a advice please contact Dr. Anil Joy email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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