Many cases, especially in older healthy children, require little
treatment. When paroxysms are frequent and severe, remedies to reduce
them are desirable, and of these paregoric seems to do as well as
any. If vomiting occurs frequently the loss of food is of importance.
In such cases easily digested food should be given as soon after a
paroxysm as possible so as to allow time for digestion and absorption
before another paroxysm occurs. The feeding is of great importance
in infants. A simple mechanical appliance is of considerable use to
these children. It consists of a firm binder fastened snugly about the
entire abdomen. It should come up over the lower ribs, and be held in
place by straps over the shoulders. This gives support to the abdomen
during coughing, enables the child to endure the paroxysms easier, and
also supports the weaker points of the abdominal wall and so prevents
the development of hernias or ruptures. Of all measures used in the
treatment of whooping cough the most important is the furnishing of
fresh air. In suitable weather the children should be kept out of doors
all day, and at night should have plenty of fresh air. This is equally
the case when pneumonia complicates whooping cough.
------------------------------------------------------------------------