Whooping cough is a stealth infection–and it’s not just for kids

For Kids from 1 to 92

Whooping cough is an epidemic in California. The state is experiencing the worst outbreak in half a century. But laying the blame on parents who decide to pass on childhood vaccinations is just a little too easy.

It’s also wrong.

Medical records show that counties with low childhood vaccination rates have about the same numbers of whooping cough cases as counties with high vaccination rates.

In fact, whoopingcough.net reports that teenagers and adults are more likely than children to be infected. For two reasons: 1) Most children are vaccinated (and this is one genuinely effective vaccine), and 2) Immunity wears off after awhile, so many adults and teens are vulnerable.

But there’s no question that unvaccinated kids are at higher risk, so everyone needs to be on guard and informed –-especially in whooping cough hot spots like California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, South Carolina, and upstate New York.

Whooping cough (also called pertussis) is a very contagious bacterial infection. Fits of prolonged coughing may become so intense that patients make deep whooping sounds when trying to catch their breath between coughs.

But pertussis is rarely diagnosed at the outset. Typical symptoms are the same as an upper respiratory infection: fever, runny nose, and a mild cough. But after a week or so, pertussis reveals itself when the cough becomes chronic and extreme.

At this point, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. What he most likely will not do is suggest a Chinese herbal treatment.

Maybe you can help him out with that.

Bring the whole family

In the December 2006 issue of the HSI Members Alert, we told you about an herbal formula called BronchoPhase, designed to help cold and flu patients overcome inflammation and respiratory distress that causes deep, prolonged coughing.

BronchoPhase was developed by Dr. Jack Fratkin–an herbalist of 30 years experience who spent some of his early career in China studying the use of herbs in treating respiratory ailments.

Dr. Fratkin told us that he uses BronchoPhase to treat the most stubborn coughs that come with colds, the flu, and even bronchitis.

In recent years, he’s also prescribed BronchoPhase to treat whooping cough as cases among his patients and their children have been on the rise. He noted that he’s used BronchoPhase to safely and quickly treat entire families.

HSI members can use their password to access this link to read the entire article about Dr. Fratkin and BronchoPhase. This herbal formula can be found through various online sources.

Every month, the HSI Members Alert keeps you up-to-date about groundbreaking health products. Find out how you can be among the very first to learn about cutting edge cures.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson

Source:
“Vaccination Is Steady, but Pertussis Is Surging” Tara Parker-Pope, New York Times, 8/16/10, well.blogs.nytimes.com