Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection

1. TOPIC:
WHOOPING COUGH

2. INTRODUCTION
Whooping cough, also known as ”Pertussis”
or the 100-day cough, is a highly contagious
Bacterial disease.
Infection caused-
Bordetella Pertussis

3. EPIDEMIOLOGY
AGE : Infants and pre-school children, below the
age of 5.
Infants below 6 months have highest
mortality.
SEX : Incidence and fatality are observed more
among female than male children.
ENVIORNMENT : Any month but predominantly
in winters and spring.

4. • MODE OF INFECTION : Droplet infection and
direct contact.
• INCUBATION PERIOD : 7-14 days.

7. STAGES
3 stages are described in the clinical course of
disease:
Catarrhal stage : Lasting for 10 days
Paroxysmal stage : Lasting for 2-4 weeks.
Convalescent stage : Stage lasting for 1-2 weeks.

8. INVESTIGATION
A nose or throat culture and test
Blood tests.
Chest x-ray

9. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Fever.
Malaise.
Rash.
Sore throat.
Hoarseness.
Tachypnea.
Wheeze.
Crepitations

10. GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Goals of therapy are -
Limit the number of paroxysms.
To observe the severity of the cough.
To provide assistance when necessary.
To maximize nutrition, rest, and recovery
without sequelae.

11. TREATMENT
• Mechanical venitlation for infants less than 6
months.
• Antibiotics-
Erythromycin,
Azithromycin,
Clarithromycin
• Supportive care : avoidance of factors that
provoke attacks of coughing, maintenance of the
hydration and nutrition, oxygen if there is
distress, gentle suction for viscid secretions.

13. HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT
• Drosera Rotundifolia -- This homeopathic
medicine is indicated when the cough is worse
immediately upon lying down to bed at night
or when the cough flares up after midnight.
There is tickling and dryness in the throat,
which causes spasmodic coughing.

14. • Belladonna -- This medicine is usually
indicated in the early stages of the illness or
when fever is present, especially if the fever
begins around 3 p.m. There is pressure in the
head, and the face is hot and red while the
hands and feet are cool. The head feels like it
will burst from coughing. A dry, tickling,
spasmodic cough emanates from the larynx.

15. • Coccus cacti -- The defining characteristic that
indicates the need for this medicine is the
production of large amounts of clear, thick,
ropey mucus. Paroxysms of choking cough
result in vomiting of long strings of mucus that
hang from the mouth and nose. Drinking cold
water may bring temporary relief from tickling
in the larynx and the coughing spells. The
spells may become more aggravated early in
the morning or around 11-11:30 p.m.

16. • Ipecacuanha -- The person who needs Ipecac
often experiences persistent nausea that may
not be relieved by the vomiting that follows
after the cough. Due to the nausea, the
person is often lacking in thirst and will not
want to drink fluids. The child will stiffen and
become rigid with the cough.

17. • Antimonium tartaricum -- The clue that leads
to the prescription of this medicine is the
sound of the loud, rattling, mucus-filled chest
while coughing. In spite of this, the person
struggles unsuccessfully to bring the mucus up
from the chest, thus producing little
expectoration. One gets the impression that
the person will drown in his/her own fluids.
The person is usually cross, irritable, and weak
from efforts to raise the phlegm.