Whooping Cough Diet

Whooping cough is a disease in which the lungs get infected by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. This disease is very contagious and causes coughing with a slight fever or without fever. At times, the coughing can become so severe so that it can result in aspiration and vomiting. Whooping cough usually begins with a mild cough and cold and affects the lungs and respiratory tracts. After that happens, the disease becomes a cough that is severe and a whoop sound is made by the person when the breath is taken in after the cough.

The bacteria that cause whooping cough and food poisoning use the same weapon to bring an infection to the body. A syringe like structure that comes out of the bacteria makes a hole in the nearby cell and injects venomous proteins that hijack the machinery of the cell.

Whooping Cough Foods

As the beginning of the whoop is the first definite sign of the disease, not much discussion is needed regarding a whooping cough diet during this prodromal period. The patient during this stage very seldom comes under observation. If a fever is present, a fluid diet should be consumed, and it should be as unstimulating and bland as possible. Milk, occasionally supplemented by meat broths, is what is needed. It is when the paroxysmal stage comes in that there must be serious consideration regarding the whooping cough diet treatment for the patient. There are two difficulties that will have to be contended with. One is in the act of vomiting that empties the stomach when food has been taken, and the other is that children learn that the eating food excites the cough and therefore resist eating any food. However, it is the risk of food being refused or vomited that needs to be considered. All children who can get out of bed and are over the age of two can have ordinary meals suitable to their age, which includes bread, butter, oat flour- porridge, milk puddings, eggs, and minced meat. More information on cough causes and treatment

As long as the patient does not seem to lose weight and if the paroxysms are not severe or frequent, the food getting vomited is of not much importance. However, if the case is severe, great care should be taken. If it is found that the patient is losing significant weight and not assimilating properly the food that is retained, it is best to follow a fluid diet and have small quantities at intervals that are frequent. Milk along with lime juice can be given to reduce any gastric acidity. In the worst cases, the milk is peptonized, and sometimes there is the addition of albumin water. In cases that are less severe, starchy foods and milk puddings can be given, but anything that can cause acidity or fermentation should be avoided. Some of the whooping cough foods to avoid are processed and refined foods, pickles, condiments, coffee, tea, sugar and meats. The patient should also avoid all products made from white flour and sugar, ice-cream, candies and soft drinks.

Is salty food bad for whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a condition that can persist for a while. In the long period of recurring and consistent coughing, the person can become labored with the process of inhalations and exhalations. It can cause the sufferer to become breathless, which, in turn, can cause a high pitched sound that sounds like a whoop. The coughing that is consistent for the whooping cough sufferers is a painful experience particularly for children and infants. Therefore, it is best that the patient follows a proper whooping cough diet and avoids food that can make the condition worse. Foods that contain a lot of salt and whooping cough do not go together. Salt also tends to increase the build-up of mucous and so you should stay clear from these kinds of foods.

Submitted on January 16, 2014