Whooping Cough (Pertussis) In Children And Homeopathy

INTRODUCTION OF THE DISEASE: –

HISTORY

  • The Chinese also called it as the ‘cough of hundred days’ and was well described in the 15th
  • Sydenham first described the term “Pertussis” i.e., intense cough in 1670 and it is a better term than “whooping cough” because all may not have the typical “whoop” to be present.

DEFINITION

It is a highly contagious acute infectious disease of respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis.

EPIDEMIOLOGY & INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASE      About 60 million cases of pertussis a year occur worldwide resulting in more than 500,000 deaths. Current worldwide prevalence is diminished by active immunization. In India the incidence declined from 1.63 lakh in 1987 to 26.7 thousand in 2000. No reservoir or carrier state is found.

Aetiology

CAUSATIVE ORGANISM: – Bordetella pertussis – are tiny gram –ve coccobacilli that grow aerobically on starch, blood and agar, which is the sole cause in epidemic and usual cause in sporadic pertussis. Bordetella parapertussis is an occasional cause of pertussis. It expresses pertussis toxin (PT) the major virulence protein.

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: – Through droplet infection from the infected   person.

OCCURRENCE: –   In early childhood (mostly below 4 yrs. of age).   Commonly occurs in late winter and early spring.

INCUBATION PERIOD: –    7 to 14 days.

Clinical Features

Pertussis has 3 clinical stages.

A) CATARRHAL PHASE: –

It is the most infectious period and lasts for 7-10 days. The child develops cough, coryza with little nasopharyngeal secretion. The cough may not be typically paroxysmal in the early stages but later becomes more annoying, paroxysmal and frequent at night.

B) PAROXYSMAL PHASE: –

It lasts for 2-4 weeks. In this phase rapid succession of cough comes on in an explosive manner. Bouts of cough terminate with a long-drawn-out inspiratory crowing sound or “whoop”. Paroxysms of cough may occur every hour or even frequently and may terminate in vomiting. Sometimes the child coughs up thick tenacious mucus. During paroxysms the child may appear choked, anxious and suffused face. After the bout of cough the child appears listless, dazed and sweats profusely. Food, cold air, cold liquids etc. precipitate paroxysms of cough.

C) CONVALESCENT PHASE: –

It lasts for 2-4 weeks. In this phase the child improves gradually. Interval between the paroxysms increases and severity of episodes decreases gradually. Vomiting becomes less frequent. Appetite and general condition gradually improve.

DIAGNOSIS: –

It should be suspected in any individual who has pure or predominant complaint of cough especially if the following are absent – like fever; malaise or myalgia; exanthem or enanthem; sore throat, hoarseness, tachypnoea, wheezes and rales.

INVESTIGATIONS: –

A) Routine blood examination: – Leukocytosis due to absolute lymphocytosis is typical in catarrhal stage.

B) Culture: – Isolation of Pertussis in culture remains the gold standard  for   diagnosis. Specimen is obtained by –

  1. Deep nasopharyngeal aspiration or swab held in the nasopharynx for 15 – 30 sec (or until coughing) and taken within 10 – 14 days.
  2. Allowing the child to cough over a petri-dish containing Bordet –Gengou medium .

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: –

  • Foreign body in the air passages.
  • Large tuberculous lymph nodes pressing on the trachea & bronchi.
  • Bronchiolitis.
  • Infection of the respiratory tract with adenoviruses.
  • COVID-19 infection can also present with similar dry cough

RISK FACTORS: –

Preterm birth of the child.

Young maternal age.

COMPLICATIONS: –

  • Apnea
  • Secondary infections e.g. pneumonia and otitis media.
  • Physical sequelae of forceful coughing e.g.

               Conjunctival or scleral haemorrhage

               Petechiae on upper body

               Epistaxis

               Haemorrhage in CNS

               Hernias – umbilical and inguinal.

Management

GENERAL MANAGEMENT: –

  1. Immunity of the child should be improved with nutritious food and proper care.
  2. Isolation and rest of the patient are two very important factors.

HOMOEOPATHIC MANGEMENT: –

Although the indicated medicines must to be selected from the totality of symptoms of each individual case but  the following medicines are commonly indicated for the treatment of whooping cough –

Sticta pulmonaria,   Drosera, Antimonium tartaricum, Corallium rubrum, Carbo vegetabilis, Bryonia alba, Hyos, Spongia, Mephitis etc. Homoeopathic medicines help not only to control the infection but it reduces the chances of post infective complications also.

Caution Note: None of these aforementioned medications should be self-prescribed and must be taken in proper potency and dosages under supervision of a properly qualified Homeopath, as it may prove to cause serious harm and uncontrolled progression of the disease. The doctors of Let’s Homeopathy are selected only after through check of their experience and academic credentials.

So, why suffer? Just give a call to let’s homoeopathy team, we would be happy to hear from you and try to solve your problem. All the medications prescribed by our doctors would be delivered to your doorstep.

PREVENTION OF THE DISEASE: –

IMMUNIZATION

As per National Immunization Schedule active immunization with triple antigen DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) should be given at monthly intervals starting from 6 weeks of age. A booster dose should be given after 1 year.