TREATMENT

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.