How can a whooping cough be treated? What is the best medicine?
828954
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system—specifically, the area where the nasal passages meet the back of the throat .The infection causes irritation in breathing passages, resulting in severe coughing spells. The illness has three distinct stages and can last months.The infection easily spreads from person to person through respiratory secretions or mucus, which can be emitted during coughing or sneezing. The incubation period is about 7 to 14 days, meaning that symptoms develop about 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to the bacteria. Whooping cough is treated with antibiotics, primarily to help reduce the spread of infection. If given during the very early stage of the illness, antibiotics may help shorten the illness. Home treatment  such as a cool-air humidifier, can also be used to help reduce the discomfort of symptoms
888577
Antibiotics are NOT meant for things like a cold and cough! I'm sorry, but I cannot overemphasize this. One, you are killing off your normal flora which will leave you open to other illnesses. Second, bacteria will start to build a resistance to the antibiotic. So once you get an infection, you won't be able to get rid of it. Antibiotics are not a cure all. Please stop taking the antibiotics! Try an over-the-counter cough and cold medicine. Also, consider visiting your doctor to see if something more serious is going on. STOP the antibiotic use.\n\nThis site should explain why I am so adamant about antibiotic use. You could take it with you when visit the doctor next time.  know its directed to parents, but it applies to everyone.\nhttp://www.drgreene.com/21_646.html
957776
My Great Grandma used to make an elixir of Honey and lemon juice in a cup and have us stir it with a spoon then lick it off to control coughing.  It works for a sore throst.  Also She was a firm believer in Vicks vapor rub to cure nasal and chest congestion.  YOu have to put it under your nose, all over your chest and back then wear a tshirt to bed with a bandana around your neck.  It also works good for muscle pain too.
73355
take a pain reliever such as advil or tylenol to get rid of the pain. then try gargling with warm salt water to help cleanse the throat. also, be sure to stay hydrated as well by drinking plenty of water.
1461
Is the cough productive? Any blood or sputum. Is the sputum clear or green and mucky. Any other symptoms?\n\nThe best approach is to *treat the cause*\n\n1. Certain drugs eg ace inhibitors have this side effect.\n\n2. smoking - cut down or stop\n\n3. Upper (nose, windpipe) and lower (lung tissue) respiratory tract infections. aka pneumonmia/chest/lung infection.\n\n4. anxiety disordes\n\n5. other - always see a qualified physician if symptoms are not settling
750056
take some cough medicine, a throat drop and take some pepto bismo. you might feel better then. good luck
293088
I have had a really bad cough this past week and the only natural remedy that has worked for me is a humidifier and drinking lots of water to make the cough more productive and to also make the cough not so dry to where it hurts so bad to cough!\nI know that's a runon sentence, oh well, but I think you got my point!
230836
I'm amazed people are recommending conventional medicines here when this is in the Alternative Medicine section.\n\nIt's really important with coughs to make sure there is expectoration. Do not give cough suppressants ever. \n\nThe best home remedy is to rub Vicks Vaborub (or something similar) on her chest and throat area - and cover it. \n\nAlso steam inhalations will help break up tough mucous. Boil some water (put some Vicks or eucalyptus in it) and put a towel over her head with her head directly above the hot water/eucalyptus and tell her to breath slowly and deeply. Do this for about 10 minutes a couple times a day. Keep her well hydrated. Let her rest properly (don't send her to school until it's resolved - if it's as bad as you say).\n\nDon't mess around with homeopathic remedies unless prescribed by a homeopath who's taken the case properly.\n\nHope she's better soon.
215638
It depends on what type of cough do you have.. and even if you take alternative/natural treatments for it there's a possibilty that it will come back after few days. Its still best to consult a doctor coz you'll never know, it might be serious.. \n\nIm talking from my own personal experience. I thought my cough was just due to allergy or pollution. I took some alternative/herbal treatments for it, but it only gave me temporary relief. My cough lasted for a couple of months, until I decided to go to a doctor. He found out that I have a tuberculosis, and now Im taking a lot of medications for this. Also consider Dana Reeve's case (wife of the actor Christopher Reeve). She thought that her cough was just an allergy, but when she consulted the doctor she was diagnosed with lung cancer and that what ended her life.\n\nPrevention is better than cure. Better to go to a doctor now or face the consequences later.
1069394
A lot of people have the common misconception that inhalers and nebulizers will get rid of a cough. This is not true at all. Inhalers and nebulizers produce a fine mist which is inhaled into the airway. Most do not have any type of "cough suppresent" function, i.e. albuterol simply stops bronchospasm. It does not relieve a cough. In fact, breathing in the mist can actually worsen the cough by irritating the airway. \nIf your inhaler is doing nothing to relieve you shortness of breath, see your doctor about a possible change in treatment. You need to see your doctor and get the cough under control. A persistent cough will irritate an asthmatic airway. Using your inhaler will only make this cough worse. I hope this helps you out. God bless.
607744
The Answer to your question is :-\nHOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT !\nThe sooner the better !\nSomeday you will thank me for this advise !\nTake Care and God Bless you\nFeel free to email me if you want a Homeopathic solution to your problem.
984593
Hi,\nPl. find out the causes of cough the main causes are as under then accordingly take the treatment  The treatment is also given in the last.\nThe main causes are\nSmoking (smoke destroys the cells in the lining of the breathing tubes so that mucous cannot be expelled normally, leading to a chronic cough). This also includes passive smoking\n\nCommon cold, influenza and other viral infections (with yellow or white mucous) are the most common causes\n\nDrugs (such as ACE inhibitors or expectorants) cause persistent, dry, non-productive coughs \n\nStress (if the cough disappears during sleep, then stress may be the cause) \n\nAllergies \n\nAspiration \n\nBacterial infection such as bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis or tracheitis\n\nViral infection such as bronchiolitis, pneumonia, upper respiratory infection\n\nCongestive heart failure\n\nEnvironmental pollution \n\nGastroesophagul reflux \n\nPostnasal drip\n\nAsthma \n\nLung cancer \n\nCough can be taken care of at home.\nIncreasing humidity in the air helps relieve coughing. A vapourizer and a steamy shower are two ways to increase the humidity. \n\nDrink extra fluids to help thin secretions and make them easier to cough up. \n\nGlyceryl guaiacolate (guaifenesin) is available without prescription and may help liquefy the mucous. Drink lots of fluids if taking this medication.\n\nWhen a cold and a stuffy, runny nose accompany the cough, it is often caused by mucous dripping down the back of the throat. A decongestant that opens the nasal passages will relieve this postnasal drip, and is the best treatment for that type of cough. \n\nDecongestants such as phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine or combinations of these two decongestants are available as over-the-counter cold medications. Don't give decongestants to a child under six years of age unless prescribed by the doctor. It is important to talk to your physician before using any cough medications for children under two. \n\nIf you have high blood pressure (hypertension), consult the doctor before taking decongestants. \n\nCoughs due to chronic postnasal drip are probably caused by either sinus infection or allergy. If allergy is the cause, it is typically treated by avoiding the trigger (allergen) that is causing the allergy. In addition, anti-histamines and a steroid nasal spray are sometimes used to suppress the allergic inflammation. \n\nDry, tickling coughs can be relieved by sucking on cough lozenges or hard candy. (However, never give a lozenge or hard candy to a child under 3 years old because it is a choking hazard.) \n\nCodeine is a very effective cough suppressant, but has some side effects, can lead to physical dependence and addiction and requires a prescription. \n\nDextromethorphan (such as in Vick's Formula 44 of Robitussin DM) is an effective cough suppressant that is available without prescription. \n\nThe treatment  of cough is as under\n\nTreatment of a cough generally involves addressing the condition causing it. An acute infection such as pneumonia may require antibiotics, an asthma-induced cough may be treated with the use of bronchodilators, or an antihistamine may be administered in the case of an allergy. Physicians prefer not to suppress a productive cough, since it aids the body in clearing respiratory system of infective agents and irritants. However, cough medicines may be given if the patient cannot rest because of the cough or if the cough is not productive, as is the case with most coughs associated with colds or flu. The two types of drugs used to treat coughs are antitussives (drugs that suppress a cough) and expectorants (drugs that make mucous easier to cough up by thinning it).\n\nFeel Free to Contact\n\nDr.Mojo
479737
The cough is  probably making your ribs ache.  After a month, no wonder.\n\nWhooping cough is a possibility...I mean, the guy is a doctor.  He should schedule an X Ray though, just to check for pneumonia or pluerisy.  And if it is whooping cough, he ought to be giving you antibiotics!\n\nhttp://www.webmd.com/hw/raising_a_family/hw65686.asp
286846
What is a cough?\n- Coughing is the body's way of removing foreign material or mucous from the lungs and throat.\n- Patients seek medical treatment for cough more than any other complaint and treatment costs exceed $1 billion dollars annually in the U.S.\n- The two general classifications of cough are productive coughs (producing phlegm or mucous from the lungs) and nonproductive coughs (dry and not producing any mucous or phlegm).\n- Coughs are also divided into acute (less than 3 weeks' duration) and chronic (more than three weeks' duration).\n\nSome causes of coughing\n- Acute cough is most often caused by the common viral upper respiratory tract infection. The cough is usually secondary to stimulation of nasal, pharyngeal, and laryngeal mucosa receptors. This results from the secretions of the nose and sinuses draining into the throat.\n- A dry cough may follow viral illnesses and may last up to several weeks.\n- Chronic cough may be caused by a variety of underlying diseases including asthma, cystic fibrosis, allergies, GERD and chronic post nasal drip.\n- Smoking is a major cause of chronic cough.\n- Certain medications (ACE inhibitors for hypertension) cause coughing as a side effect.\n\nTreatment of coughs\n- Treatment of a cough should be directed at the underlying cause of the cough.\n- Antitussives are useful in suppressing dry, hacking coughs. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)\n- Antitussives should not be given when the cough is productive and the patient is bringing up mucus. If the cough is keeping the patient awake at night, then their use at bedtime is indicated.\n- Antihistamines and decongestants may be a good choice for treating coughs associated with post nasal drip. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)\n- Expectorants are useful to help break and bring up mucous. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)\n- For patients with underlying disease states causing the cough, treatment should first be based on treating the underlying disease.\n\nA physician should be called if: \n- the patient is producing green, yellow, or rusty colored sputum. This is usually the result of an infection.\n- the cough lingers more than 7 to 10 days after other symptoms have cleared.\n- any cough lasts longer than two weeks.\n- a persistent fever is present or if the coughing up of blood occurs. \n*RZ*
986296
Simply try a herbal cough mixture that can give you symptomatic relief as well as prevent further coughing and protect against infections. I recommend Cofrem-5, it has worked wonders for persistent cough and does not cause drowsiness and the sick feeling after most sedating cough mixtures. I found it on www.sindor.com
41929
The best treatment is; see a Doctor.\n\n But if you mean a home remedy, there are many. I personally take tylenol every 4-6 hours to keep my fever down ,a multi-vitamin, extra vitamin C, eat only soft foods to avoid scatching my throat worse (and to make swallowing easier), I gargle with peroxide (of coarse I do not swallow it), and I warm 'Vicks' in the microwave until it's barely clear (makes it more spreadable) and with two Q-Tips taped together (over lapping a tip on each)I dip the long Q-Tip in the 'Vicks' (touch it to my lip to make sure it's not too hot) I get a bunch on the swab and swab my tonsil area. After doing this i do not swallow for atleast 5 minutes,  within about 15 minutes I get so much relief in my throat that if I couldn't swallow, I can then. I every hour suck on a popcicle or a half a cup of ice etc. to keep the swelling down in my throat. I peroxide and Vicks my throat every 8 hours. Normally in a couple of days, I'm well. It's and 'ole time remedy' and I've been doing this for 30 years and so has the rest of my family.\n Now, if you do this, that's your choice but I'm sure you knew the 'NORMAL ADVICE, Go to the Doctor'!!, right.? So for all you 'Do Gooders', "going to the Doctor has been discussed and as for what my family and I do, it's 'NUNYA', (breaking it down for ya, NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS) so your advice on what I do save it for someone who wants to hear what you have to say!!!
1026894
try a gravity bong....keep on smoking...you are keeping me in business as a respiratory therapist!! See you soon with a big tube down your throat....fool