Known medically as pertussis, whooping cough is a contagious respiratory tract infection. At first, whooping cough may mirror symptoms of an ordinary cold. However, at some point, it can actually progress into a more serious problem especially in infants. In its most advanced stages, the infection is characterized by a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop" which is where the condition gets its name.

In the early 1900’s whooping cough was a leading cause of illness in children and even death in America. However, once a vaccine was developed in the 1940s, the number of cases gradually declined. On the 1080’s cases of whooping cough reached an all time low.

Since then, however, cases have been increasing, primarily among children that are too young to receive the full course of vaccinations as well as teenagers whose immunity has become weakened.

With proper treatment, the majority of teenagers and adults recover fully from whooping cough without complications. In children, especially those under 6 months of gage, the condition can be more serious.

Signs and symptoms of whooping cough usually take a few days to a few weeks to begin surfacing. Once they do, they are initially mild at first and mirror those of a common cold, such as:

- A runny nose

- Nasal congestion

- Sneezing

- Red, watery eyes

- A mild fever

- Dry cough

- General feeling of illness and loss of appetite

After a week or two, signs and symptoms become worse and usually include:

Severe coughing attacks accompanied by a thick phlegm.

Coughing attacks (up to 15 coughs in a row) Which end with a high-pitched whoop sound as you gasp for air. These may be so severe that the child vomits or turns red or blue from the effort.

Fatigue (from excessive coughing).

Whooping cough is considered an upper respiratory infection meaning the areas affected are the upper airways, mostly the windpipe (trachea) and the tubes branching off from the windpipe (bronchi).

A person contracts the infection as a result of breathing in respiratory secretions of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium that are coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person. While whooping cough is most contagious early on, it can still be spread very easily until the infection clears completely.

Once the bacteria enter a person’s airways, it multiplies and produces toxins that interfere with the respiratory tract's ability to rid the body of germs. As a result thick mucus develops deep inside the airways which cause uncontrollable coughing.

Inflammation which narrows breathing tubes in the lungs can also occur, causing a person to gasp for air.

The regimen below includes a safe, natural approach to treating & preventing whooping cough:

If a child develops the condition, try to keep him or her calm, especially during coughing episodes.

Eliminate all possible coughing triggers, such as smoke and dust.

Use a cool mist humidifier and keep the child hydrated with small sips of water.

Avoid dairy products.

Check with the child’s healthcare provider prior to administering any herb or supplement.

The following supplements may also be helpful:

Garlic (2 capsules 3 times daily) - Improves immune function, holds antibacterial properties and helps expel Mucus from the lungs. I personally use Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract by Wakunaga of America, which is an odorless organic garlic supplement.

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids (A large dose may be necessary) - Stimulates the immune system. Small amounts will not produce results so it should be taken every 15 minutes until bowel tolerance is reached. The whooping cough bacteria is destroyed by saturation doses of ascorbic acid.

Acidophilus (take as directed on label) - Stops harmful bacteria that cause infection and should be used if antibiotics are used because it replaces "friendly" bacteria.

Acupuncture - Traditional Chinese medicine which involves a combination of herbs that treat whooping cough.

Elecampane Root (take as directed on label) - Natural expectorant.

Marshmallow Root (take as directed on label) - Soothing to the respiratory tract.

Slippery Elm (take as directed on label) - Soothes the throat.

Osha Root (take as directed on label) - Mild cough suppressant.

Thyme (take as directed on label) - Clears respiratory congestion.

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