Whooping cough causes coughing so intense that your child may vomit or have difficulty breathing. The cough, the primary symptom of the illness, doesn't respond to cough medicines and other standard treatments for coughing. While you can't stop the coughing, you can ensure that your child is as comfortable as possible while he recovers from this serious childhood disease.
Identification
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a contagious illness spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The pertussis bacteria affects the lungs, causing narrowing, inflammation and increased mucous production in the breathing passages. Whooping cough takes its name from the characteristic "whooping" sound that patients make when they cough. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that infants under 1 year of age are at the greatest risk of developing severe breathing problems and life-threatening illness from whooping cough. Introduction of the pertussis vaccine reduced the number of cases of this serious illness, but the illness still occurs in unvaccinated children, babies who are too young to receive the vaccination and teenagers and adults who are susceptible when the vaccine wears off.
Using a Vaporizer
Placing a cool-mist vaporizer in your child's room increases the humidity in the room, which loosens secretions in the nose and lungs and makes it less difficult to breathe. Put the vaporizer near your child's bed but far enough away that she cannot accidentally knock it over. Emptying and cleaning the vaporizer every day helps prevent bacteria from growing in the unit. Giving your child a warm bath or shower can help temporarily clear the lungs if you don't have a vaporizer, MayoClinic.com reports.
Eating and Drinking
It can be a challenge to eat and drink when you are constantly coughing. Smaller meals might be easier to manage between coughing bouts and less likely to result in vomiting should a particularly intense coughing spell trigger vomiting. Dehydration is a concern if your child has whooping cough. Babies and children may be more likely to develop dehydration due to lower body weight. Offer an older child water, soup, broth, juice, frozen ice pops and other water-based beverages and foods to help maintain his fluid level. Your doctor may recommend that you give your baby bottles filled with oral rehydration solution, available at drug and grocery stores, if dehydration is a concern.
When to Call the Doctor
Call the doctor if your child shows signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, dry lips, thirst, dry mouth, reduction in urination, headache, weak muscles, dizziness, crying without producing tears or a depression in the soft spot at the top of your baby's head. If your child develops dehydration or has difficulty eating or drinking, your doctor may recommend that she receive intravenous fluids at the hospital. Frequent vomiting or a blue or red appearance to the skin also is a cause for concern. Call your doctor if your child develops these symptoms or has great difficulty breathing.
