Infants under the age of 12 months may become seriously ill as a result of whooping cough (pertussis), and they are more likely to have whooping cough complications and be hospitalized than people in other age groups.
 
In the 1990s, about two-thirds of infants reported with whooping cough were hospitalized. Infants are more likely to have complications such as pneumonia or convulsions. Infants are also at greatest risk of fatal pertussis. In recent years, 15 to 21 infant deaths from whooping cough have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) annually.
 
Trends of Whooping Cough in Infants
Reported cases of whooping cough among infants younger than five months have been increasing since the 1980s. For example, the number of reported cases among infants younger than five months was about 600 per year in the early 1980s, and about 1,700 per year at the end of the 1990s. The average reported rate among infants in this age group increased more than 50 percent in the 1990s compared with the 1980s (the average reported rate in the 1990s was 89 per 100,000 infants). By contrast, among infants aged 5 to 11 months, there was no increase in the reported rate from the 1980s to the present.
 
Diet for Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is caused by an infection, and there are no dietary causes for the condition. Your diet alone can have little to no effect on the outcome of the disease, but making modifications to your diet and eating habits can help with recovery. The main aim of dietary changes is to ensure adequate nutrition and to prevent dehydration. You don?t need to follow any specific diet, but should simply ensure that you consume wholesome nutritious meals that include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help to boost immunity, helping your body overcome the infection more effectively.

Vitamin C supplements and bioflavanoids could also help boost immunity, as well as essential minerals like zinc. Seek advice from your doctor or nutritionist on supplements and dosages, as self prescription can pose risks.Try to eat smaller and more frequent meals, rather than the typical two large meals. This will help maintain nutritional intake despite the loss of appetite, and also lower the risk of vomiting. Make sure that you boost your fluid intake by consuming adequate amounts of water, plenty of fresh fruit juices and soups. Avoid the consumption of any caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.

Suggestions for Whooping Cough
In addition to conventional treatment, the use of natural remedies and dietary modifications, it is imperative that some changes are made to your lifestyle. Here are some suggestions that will help with recovery from whooping cough:

-- Rest is absolutely essential for recovery. Avoid any kind of exertion and make it a point to relax and stay in bed until you have recovered. Do not try and resume work or other activities as soon as you start to feel better, but wait for a complete recovery. Your doctor would be the best source of advice in this regard.

-- Make sure that your environment is free of any airborne irritants that could severely aggravate the symptoms. Cigarette smoke and the fumes from fireplaces or even from the kitchen could cause irritation and greatly increase the severity of symptoms.

-- If the patient is a young child, baby or aged individual, their condition should be monitored closely for any signs of dehydration or worsening of symptoms. Any change should be brought to the attention of your health care provider immediately.