Whooping Cough - Treatment

Patients can be treated during the early stage of whooping cough with an antibiotic. The antibiotic usually used is erythromycin (pronounced i-rithruh-MY-sin). This treatment has limited value, however. The cilia are damaged early in the disease and once they are damaged, no drug can repair them. The cilia eventually grow back and begin to function normally. Until that happens, however, the patient will simply have to endure the symptoms of the disease.

There are ways, however, to make the patient more comfortable during the later stages of the disease. For example, liquids are recommended to keep the patient from becoming dehydrated. Rest is also suggested in order to reduce the amount and the intensity of the coughing.