Whooping Cough - the Disease
Whooping cough is a contagious illness affecting the lungs, caused by the Bordetella Pertussis bacteria. In the 19th century, whooping cough was a killer disease. The death rate from whooping cough remained at around 10,000 per year from 1847 until the 1900s, after which it declined steeply as children's health improved. The rate had reached less than 400 per year by 1950, when whooping cough immunization began. In 2002, only 1,051 cases were reported in the UK. The most recent estimate of deaths in England is 9 deaths per year.
The disease is spread by droplets. The child remains infectious from 7 days after first exposure until 3 weeks after the onset of paroxysmal coughs. The disease clogs the airways with thick mucus that can only be dislodged with great effort. It has a 7-14 day incubation period when the child is infectious without symptoms; can last six weeks or more; and goes through three distinct stages:
Stage One:
This is the catarrhal stage, characterized by sneezing, listlessness, loss of appetite, fever, and a hacking cough. The cough is frequently worse during the night. The child is most contagious during this stage.
Homeopathic remedies: Aconite , Arnica , Belladonna, Pulsatilla .
Stage Two:
After 10-14 days, the nasal discharge thickens and the cough becomes paroxysmal - about 5-10 quick coughs in succession, followed by a deep hurried in-breath. This in-breath is accompanied by the characteristic "whooping" noise. The coughing then subsides and the pattern repeated later.
The paroxysms are often preceded by a feeling of apprehension or anxiety, together with a tightness in the chest. During the coughing spell, the child's face may become red or blue, the eyes bulge, and the tongue protrudes. Some of these paroxysms may be followed by vomiting or gagging, or the spitting up of a mucus plug. Many attacks occur at night or in a stuffy room. The attacks may be brought on by physical exertion, by crying, or by eating or drinking.
Infants do not always have the "whooping" associated with their cough; and in adults, the cough is usually mild and sometimes never diagnosed.
The symptoms of whooping cough can be distressing for everyone concerned. Weight loss can occur, and/or dehydration, because the child might vomit with the cough. Other complications may include convulsions, pneumonia, or a collapsed lung. Death may result from complicating respiratory infections.
Homeopathic remedies: Drosera, Carbo Veg., Coccus Cacti, Ipecac, Cuprum, Kali Carb., Corrallium Rubrum .
Stage Three:
The convalescent stage starts at around the third or fourth week, as the coughing fits recede. In some cases, the cough can return in succeeding months, following exposure to pollution or other respiratory problems.
Homeopathic remedies: Ant. Tart, Pulsatilla, Sulphur .
Whooping cough can be serious in children aged under 2 years.
Homeopathic remedies are able to treat whooping cough very effectively, although different remedies are needed for each stage. Consulting a professional homeopath for practical and emotional support is recommended, as the coughing fits can be extremely stressful to watch. The remedies can ease the child's distress significantly. They can also shorten the duration of the disease and prevent or reduce complications.
Vaccination does not guarantee immunity from whooping cough. A type of masked whooping cough can develop in vaccinated children, often making diagnosis difficult. GPs are reluctant to recognise the symptoms of whooping cough in vaccinated children, so the disease often goes un-notified.
Pertussis is becoming a typical disease of adults who did not develop permanent immunity from the disease during childhood.