Childhood Diseases Part 3

By Elvian and Jacinta at Mullum Herbals

The healthier our families are, in mind, body and spirit, the stronger the resistance to any childhood disease. Good health starts with whole, pesticide-free, nourishing foods, which are easily digested by our bodies. Paying attention to improving digestion generally, is a step for most of us towards better health. More than 90% of our clients at Mullumbimby Herbals have some degree of lowered absorption and/or digestion. This is the root cause of many diseases.

Sipping a little fresh ginger or fennel seed tea before or after meals is a simple home digestive aid. Or try the wonderful meadowsweet ten minutes before meals.

It is also our approach and attitude to food which often needs addressing. Sitting and relaxing (centreing), having a circle or saying some meaningful blessing on the meal, brings more respect and reverence to the food and also enhances digestion and absorption. Our food can then nourish us on many levels. This can also be a daily way of bringing the family together. In our rushed modern lives, these little rituals which bring us closer are easily lost, and yet simple daily habits like these can add to the intimacies and rhythms of family life and are, therefore, in their own way, prevention against childhood diseases. This issue we will look more deeply at another common childhood disease. 

Whooping cough

Whooping cough is an acute disease caused by the bacteria bordetella pertussis. It is passed on by droplets, from coughing or sneezing and is very contagious. It is much more common in winter.

The bacteria invades the body and takes one to three weeks to start showing symptoms. The whole respiratory tract may be affected. The entire symptom stage takes about six weeks, but may extend up to three months. Initially mucous is produced, along with fatigue, sneezing, coughing, tearing of the eyes and poor appetite. Usually there is only mild or no fever. These symptoms last for up to two weeks, after which the cough may worsen to the stage where there are bouts of short, suffocating, spasmodic coughs, finishing with a sort of ‘whoop’ as the child gasps for air. The face may turn red or purple.

After such bouts of coughing the child may bring up thick mucous, which can then be followed by an attack of vomiting. The period of severe coughing lasts for two to three weeks. The recovery period takes one to six weeks where the cough decreases and becomes looser, with more phlegm. It is important that recovery is complete or the child may suffer with an increased susceptibility to respiratory tract infection for many years.

Diagnosis can be difficult and is primarily based on history of contact from the symptoms. Cultures of the infected mucous are not totally accurate, but are more reliable in the earlier pre-spasmodic stages of the disease. Neither the disease nor immunisation provides long-term immunity. The vaccination is claimed to be 70–80% effective in preventing disease; however its effectiveness and toxicity have been questioned.

The infective period of whooping cough is for six weeks after onset of the disease. If antibiotic herbs are given in the early stages of the condition they can eliminate the disease, later they help reduce the contagiousness.

Treatment recommendations

In the initial stages of the disease strong antibiotic herbs are necessary, along with immune tonics to aid the body in throwing off the disease. Herbs such as andrographis, echinacea, cats claw, coptis, golden seal and withania are useful examples. The cough continues long after the bacteria are dead. This is due to the hook-shaped bacteria which lodges in the respiratory tract and continues irritating. Therefore at this stage, more demulcent and anti-spasmodic herbs are indicated. These may include marshmallow, ribwort, thyme and sage. Another aid in eliminating these hooked-on bacteria can be lemon, ginger and honey drinks. Steam inhalations can also be helpful.

A well-nourished, healthy child is less likely to contract whooping cough, and if they do, the symptoms and duration will be minimalised. Once a cough has taken hold it is a matter of supporting the child’s immunity, respiratory system and also their nervous system due to the stressful nature of the condition. (Parents may also benefit from nervous system support!). The specific herbal treatment for cough is geared towards reducing respiratory tract infection, which is causing the coughing. Other actions liquefy and aid expectoration of tenacious mucous, soothe the spasmodic nature of the cough by relaxing the airways and support the integrity of the respiratory tract mucous membrane. In addition to oral herbal medicines and steam inhalations, chest rubs and poultices are also useful in reducing the severity of symptoms.

Homoeopathics

Homoeopathic pertussin is used to lessen the child’s susceptibility to whooping cough. Other remedies included in symptom management are drosera, aconite, arnica, nux vomica and belladonna. In prescribing homeopathic medicine for whooping cough (and herbs) it is best to consult with your healthcare professional. Bush and/or Bach flower essences are also useful in supporting the emotional as well as the physical condition of the affected child and family.

A well-managed case of whooping cough will certainly reduce the duration and severity of symptoms. Of equal value is the return to full health without suffering lingering respiratory weakness often associated with cases of whooping cough. This is definitely one of the childhood diseases that requires attention and concentrated natural medicine throughout the disease to prevent any possible resulting weaknesses.

Published in byronchild (Kindred), issue 15, September 2005