Whooping cough exposure

[Erin1700]

Yesterday I went to pick up my DD7 from an afternoon activity. I had my 20 month old DS with me. Another mom who we talk to often was there with her kids including her son age 2 in his stroller. She told me to keep my DS away from him b/c he was at the doctor and they think he has whooping cough!
There were a lot of people around! She said he had been vaccinated so the doctor's think it will be mid in him. Really though, not everyone vaccinates their kids so I am sure he exposed them! And my kids are vaccinated but I don't want a mild case of this!

I feel so bad for the little boy but I couldn't believe she brought him in. Especially since we have car pooled in the past and she could have called me or someone else to happily bring her DD home!

 

[asta]

I just want to throw a word in to encourage everyone to get their children vaccinated. My 19 year old daughter came down with a horrible case of whooping cough last year. She had been vaccinated for this as an infant/toddler but the vaccine given back then did not give life time immunity like the one now. My point is that there are many opportunities to be exposed to this so the only protection for young ones is to be vaccinated. Doctors don't worry about a young adult getting whooping cough because even though they are just miserable for a long time, it isn't fatal. It is an entirely more serious illness in infants/toddlers. As long as there is an entire older population that can be passing this on, you want to make sure that your young ones can't catch it.

I do agree that she should not have brought the sick child out and exposed the others.

 

[MelCald]

My 7yo ds came home from school last Friday with a State issued letter stating that he had been exposed to whooping cough..someone in his class was diagnosed with it. The letter reccomended that he be put on antibiotics as a precaution. I called his pedi and he agreed.

 

[Erin1700]

My 7yo ds came home from school last Friday with a State issued letter stating that he had been exposed to whooping cough..someone in his class was diagnosed with it. The letter reccomended that he be put on antibiotics as a precaution. I called his pedi and he agreed.

My daughter plays with the little boys sister a lot. I am going to be the crazy mom who calls the peds just to be sure my kids are okay.

 

[asta]

I am confused here with the mention of antibiotics. Whooping cough is a virus and that is why it can be prevented with vaccination. Antibiotics treat infection and I would think would be useless against a virus like whooping cough. Are there any medical experts out there who can enlighten me about why you would use an antibiotic? When my 19 year old had this last year she coughed horribly and continually for over a month. Her friends said that it sounded like she was coughing up a lung and I can tell you that there were many nights that she kept the whole house awake with deep, racking coughs. She saw two doctors and neither of them mentioned an antibiotic.

 

[Erin1700]

I am confused here with the mention of antibiotics. Whooping cough is a virus and that is why it can be prevented with vaccination. Antibiotics treat infection and I would think would be useless against a virus like whooping cough. Are there any medical experts out there who can enlighten me about why you would use an antibiotic? When my 19 year old had this last year she coughed horribly and continually for over a month. Her friends said that it sounded like she was coughing up a lung and I can tell you that there were many nights that she kept the whole house awake with deep, racking coughs. She saw two doctors and neither of them mentioned an antibiotic.

I know the little boy was put on antibiotics and the mother said that is how the doctors said it was treated.
I agree though, I thought it was a virus which is why you need the vaccinations.

 

[teacups]

Is this one of the shots the kids normally get or do I have to specifically ask for this one? My oldest is 9.


PS: Please keep your sick people home.

 

[freckles and boo]

Is this one of the shots the kids normally get or do I have to specifically ask for this one? My oldest is 9.


PS: Please keep your sick people home.

If your children have had their vaccines, they have been vaccinated against pertussis (whooping cough). Probably with a DTaP vaccine.

 

[Erin1700]

Is this one of the shots the kids normally get or do I have to specifically ask for this one? My oldest is 9.


PS: Please keep your sick people home.

I think (could be wrong) it is part of the DPT shot?

 

[TomLovesBecky]

Is this one of the shots the kids normally get or do I have to specifically ask for this one? My oldest is 9.


PS: Please keep your sick people home.

Whooping cough is the P in DPT. It stands for pertussis, its medical name. You can look up the common names of the illnesses covered in the routine vaccine schedule--there are a lot of articles about it online. I recommend doing it now so you are aware of what your child has been vaccinated for. It is information you might need in the future. Hope this helps you out!

 

[froglady]

I am confused here with the mention of antibiotics. Whooping cough is a virus and that is why it can be prevented with vaccination. Antibiotics treat infection and I would think would be useless against a virus like whooping cough. Are there any medical experts out there who can enlighten me about why you would use an antibiotic? When my 19 year old had this last year she coughed horribly and continually for over a month. Her friends said that it sounded like she was coughing up a lung and I can tell you that there were many nights that she kept the whole house awake with deep, racking coughs. She saw two doctors and neither of them mentioned an antibiotic.

The virus may make them more susceptible to a bacterial infection (because their immune system is fighting it), which may be what actually causes the more serious problems? Sometimes, a virus and bacterial infection go hand in hand.

Interestingly, DH is currently getting treated for exposure for this exact same thing.

 

[asta]

And after everything we went through last year, my children's doctor told me that later versions of that vaccine now give life time immunity. The one that my 16 year old received has lifetime protection. This must be true because she did not catch whooping cough despite being exposed but I am convinced that I had a milder form. I didn't cough as long but had a couple of weeks of a pretty vicious cough.

 

[freckles and boo]

My understanding is that the DPT has been replaced with the DTaP. Either way, pertussis is covered.

 

[teacups]

DTaP and DTP.... oh good! We're covered!


PS: BUT PLEASE still keep your sick ones at home.

 

[Erin1700]

DTaP and DTP.... oh good! We're covered!


PS: BUT PLEASE still keep your sick ones at home.

This little boy ALSO had the vaccines! I guess you get a milder case of it sometimes, but he is really sick!

And yes, he should have been kept home! This family often gives my DD a ride home on Fridays, I think I will make other arrangements for tomorrow.

 

[teacups]

This little boy ALSO had the vaccines! I guess you get a milder case of it sometimes, but he is really sick!

And yes, he should have been kept home! This family often gives my DD a ride home on Fridays, I think I will make other arrangements for tomorrow.

Stay Healthy!

 

[Erin1700]

Stay Healthy!

Yep, my kid's pediatrician said they need antibiotics since they were around him. It could have up to a 21 day incubation period and they were over here around 18 days ago.
Better safe than sorry!

 

[rbuzzotta]

My DD had it when she was a freshman in high school (she is a senior now). She also had mono. She was tested for Pertusis and it came back positive. Even codeine did not quiet the cough!! She was miserable and her ribs were killing her!!

The test was confirmed by the CDC but in Massachusetts, it needed to be confirmed by another agency (local I believe, but actually really can't remember) in order for the school to send out a letter to inform the families. The school got a letter from her doctor with the confirmation but still did not act. So, I called all her close friends and her coaches (2 different cheer teams) and they put out a memo to the teams. Most girls (especially those with asthma) were given antibiotics from their doctors as a protective measure!! Better be safe.............

Pertussis usually has an outbreak in high schools around this time of year!!!

 

[Erin1700]

My DD had it when she was a freshman in high school (she is a senior now). She also had mono. She was tested for Pertusis and it came back positive. Even codeine did not quiet the cough!! She was miserable and her ribs were killing her!!

The test was confirmed by the CDC but in Massachusetts, it needed to be confirmed by another agency (local I believe, but actually really can't remember) in order for the school to send out a letter to inform the families. The school got a letter from her doctor with the confirmation but still did not act. So, I called all her close friends and her coaches (2 different cheer teams) and they put out a memo to the teams. Most girls (especially those with asthma) were given antibiotics from their doctors as a protective measure!! Better be safe.............

Pertussis usually has an outbreak in high schools around this time of year!!!

Please disregard if you don't want to answer, but was your daughter vaccinated for it when she was younger and she still got it?

 

[asta]

Please disregard if you don't want to answer, but was your daughter vaccinated for it when she was younger and she still got it?

Excuse me for jumping in here since you didn't ask me the question, but it sounds like this young woman could have received the same vaccine that my daughter received. Those vaccine did not give life time protection like the current vaccines.

I alson think that it is curious that my daughter developed mono a month or so after she came down with whooping cough. This virus is rough on your system and very young children and infants need to be protected.