Can whooping cough be treated with Chinese medicine?

Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

Updated on December 20, 2024

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Whooping cough is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis or Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment is also an option. There are many commonly used traditional Chinese medicine formulas, such as Pediatric Whooping Cough Powder, Qingfei Zhike San, Feier Wan, Huachong Wan, Bai Ji Granules, Zuo Jin Wan, etc., which all have certain effects and efficacy in treating whooping cough. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that whooping cough is caused by pathogenic factors attacking the lung defense, reduced function of the lung's descending and clearing action, and cough symptoms due to qi moving in the wrong direction.

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Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

44sec

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How is whooping cough diagnosed?

If the body exhibits symptoms of coughing, and persistent cough which highly suspects whooping cough, bacterial culture can be performed. Initially, a nasopharyngeal swab can be taken; during the spasmodic phase of coughing, sputum culture can be chosen for specimen collection for bacterial culture, with a higher positive rate in the early stages. Fluorescent antibody staining can also be conducted, which involves making a smear from a nasopharyngeal swab, aiding in rapid diagnosis. Serological tests can also be performed, conducting double serum agglutination tests and complement fixation tests, and if the antibody titer rises, it can be confirmed as an infection of this disease.

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Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

44sec

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What causes whooping cough?

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory infectious disease primarily caused by the Bordetella pertussis or Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria. It is contagious and has a prolonged course, often leading to paroxysmal spasmodic coughing. It is commonly seen in infants and spreads through airborne droplets and close contact. The disease is generally prevented through vaccination. It has been included in the national free vaccination program, with babies receiving injections at three, four, and five months of age as part of their basic immunization, followed by a booster shot after the age of two. Once antibodies are produced, they can effectively prevent the disease.

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Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

45sec

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What fruits can be eaten with whooping cough?

Pertussis, once diagnosed, should be treated promptly with anti-inflammatory treatment and symptomatic care. Regarding diet, common fruits such as apples, bananas, grapes, pears, watermelons, pineapples, avocados, and mangoes can generally be consumed without special restrictions. Eating more pears, tangerines, and oranges can effectively moisturize the lungs, dissolve phlegm, suppress coughs, and alleviate symptoms. It is also important to drink plenty of water and maintain suitable indoor temperature and humidity to aid in recovery from the disease. Early detection and treatment of the disease, and the formulation of individualized treatment measures, are crucial.

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Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

41sec

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What is whooping cough?

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It primarily infects infants under the age of five, leading to distinctive coughing fits that are paroxysmal and may also include a barking cough or a crowing sound during inhalation. Some may also experience redness of the face and ears, runny nose, teary eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting as complications. Upon observing these typical symptoms, it is advised to visit a hospital for appropriate diagnostic tests and timely symptomatic treatment, along with maintaining adequate hydration and keeping the indoor temperature comfortable.

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Written by Li Ying

Neonatology

1min 18sec

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After receiving the DTP vaccine, can you still get whooping cough?

The DTP vaccine is a combination of pertussis bacteria, diphtheria toxoid, and tetanus toxoid, which can prevent whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus simultaneously. The target group for the DTP vaccine is children aged 3 months to 7 years. The DTP vaccine requires three consecutive shots. Only after the three consecutive injections will sufficient antibodies be produced. However, these antibodies can only be maintained for a certain period of time and do not provide lifelong immunity. Many parents mistakenly think that once their child is vaccinated, they are invulnerable to all diseases, but this is an unscientific notion. The efficacy of vaccines is not 100%. The common basic vaccines currently used generally have an efficacy rate of over 80%, meaning that after vaccination, 80% of people will produce antibodies. However, since the antibody concentration of some vaccines can decrease significantly over time to a level that does not reach the immunity concentration, booster shots are necessary.