<p>A friend’s family has all got it. Despite the two teenagers’ vaccination as per recommended schedule. They’re all on Zpac. I guess there’s an outbreak underway. How about you all?</p>
<p>I had whooping cough when I was a child, about 3 or 4 years old. I remember it vividly to this day. The feeling of gasping for breath, of not being able to breathe, is etched in my memory. It even kept me from learning how to swim, since I couldn’t stand the idea of having to hold my breath. </p>
<p>I understand that the current vaccinations are a little weaker, so people are getting whooping cough nowadays after the vaccinations, but the illness doesn’t seem as serious as if you get it without being vaccinated. My daughter was vaccinated at the normal time, and got whooping cough in her junior year of high school. She didn’t have the horrible whoop, but she was weak and tired for at least 6 weeks. Nasty illness.</p>
<p>For anyone who thinks vaccinations are dangerous and therefore don’t get the children vaccinated, please think again.</p>
<p>I got whooping cough when I was 28. It was horrific, not just the gasping for breath, but inevitably coughing and coughing till you vomited. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. You better believe it, my kids got vaccinated. (I’d been vaccinated, but those vaccines don’t last forever especially when you meet up with pockets of unvaccinated kids.)</p>
<p>My daughter just recovered from whooping cough. (It started in late May.) She had all of her childhood immunizations, as well as a pertussis booster last year. (She went to Student Health Services for something else and was strongly encouraged to get the booster.) If you suspect you or someone you know has whooping cough, go to the doctor immediately. She put it off and put it off and, by the time she went, it was too late for treatment to be effective. It just had to run its course.</p>
<p>I was just due for my tetanus shot and was surprised to learn that now they include the whooping cough vaccine in the tetanus shot. I guess I am covered. I live in Minnesota where they just reported 400+ cases so far this year.</p>
<p>I did a LOT of whining about all of the shots I needed for my trip to Africa last year. One of them was the pertussis vaccine. Guess I’m glad I got it!!</p>
<p>Yup, my daughter was one of the 400.</p>
<p>My wife and I had it a few years ago (despite childhood vaccinations), and it is really awful. I just recently got a booster. If your doc suggests it, don’t hesitate.</p>
<p>Pertussis was not included in the dT booster until several years ago, so those of us who were vaccinated as children had waning immunity as we entered teen and adult years. This unfortunately kept and keeps whooping cough out there, as teens and adults serve as the reservoir from which babies get it. The outbreak has caused several infant deaths in CA WA and other states this year. </p>
<p>No vaccine is 100%, but the unvaccinated will still get pertussis at a higher rate. Whooping cough is not fun for older kids, teens, or adults (they used to call it the Hundred Day Cough-- it really lasts a looooong time), but it is quite dangerous for babies who aren’t old enough for their first DaPT or who haven’t received the complete first series of DaPT. </p>
<p>Get your boosters!! It’s an every ten year shot.</p>
<p>DS, who is a 20yo rising junior, was just at the doctor yesterday for his annual check-up. He told the doctor he is leaving in a few weeks for a semester in Luxembourg - he left the office with pertussis, tetanus, and Guardasil vacinations and TB test.</p>
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<p>Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine is now available in the diptheria / tetanus vaccine for adults and children. It is recommended that adults get at least one booster with the pertussis vaccine (normally, diptheria / tetanus boosters are recommended approximately every ten years).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, there have been outbreaks recently around here because the anti-vaccine activists have convinced enough people to not get the vaccine, resulting in herd immunity becoming ineffective. It is especially important for those in contact with infants too young to be vaccinated, people with weak immune systems, and those with medical contraindications to vaccination to get vaccinated to avoid being the carrier to such vulnerable people. The anti-vaccine activism makes getting the vaccine yourself even more important since you are now more likely to come in contact with an infected person.</p>
<p>I got the vaccine this spring as it is recommended for everyone in our area (Seattle) due to recent outbreak. My nurse practitioner highly recommended it, especially if I would be in contact with any infants. (And a close friend just a baby, so that is one reason I did it.) She said some pediatricians here are saying not to let anyone hold your infant who hasn’t had the vaccine. </p>
<p>Right after that I heard a worker on our local ferry say that someone was out sick with whooping cough, and then a family friend said he had it and was off work two weeks. If you get it, you are supposed to stay home until you aren’t coughing any more or for THREE weeks. (So think about the ramifications of missing three weeks of work or school.)</p>
<p>Does anyone know how long the immunity lasts from actually having whooping cough?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure my son recently had it. He was on a z-pack by the time the ‘whooping’ sound started. It’s a sound you won’t soon forget. His started with a sore throat, cough, HA. The whopping didn’t start until about 2 weeks into the illness, which is apparently typical for this disease. I’m so glad I made him go to the doctor. The doc gave him a cortisone shot and the z pack for a sinus infection. So far he’s only having a few coughing fits a day. I’m hoping the early intervention with the Z-pack will keep it mild. He was up to date on his recommended vaccinations but hadn’t had the pertussis booster shot in years. His last tetanus was in 2005 and didn’t include the pertussis.</p>
<p>I came down with the same symptoms he did a few days after his ‘cold’ started but I was over it in a few days. Guess my immunity is still pretty high. Neither hubby nor son’s gf have been sick. Son is past the transmittable stage. He goes back to his family doc next week and I’m going to have him report it and see if he needs the booster shot.</p>
<p>[Duration</a> of immunity against pertussis … [Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2005] - PubMed - NCBI](<a href=“Duration of immunity against pertussis after natural infection or vaccination - PubMed”>Duration of immunity against pertussis after natural infection or vaccination - PubMed)</p>
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<p>^Darn! Looks like I’m overdue for a shot!</p>
<p>There was an outbreak in our town several years ago that was made worse by the medical community and their lack of knowledge that antibiotics work on Whooping Cough ;)</p>
<p>A major issue at work for younger people is that since the late 1990s, only the acellular pertussis vaccine has been used. The more efficacious whole cell vaccine was pulled due to side effects. The acellular version does have fewer side effects but it is not as good at conferring immunity. If worried, you can get a TdaP vaccination instead of the regular tetanus (Td) vaccination. Azithromycin is the most population antibiotic for pertussis.</p>
<p>EVERYONE should get the Tdap instead of the Td.</p>
<p>My S just had the Tdap today. All entering 9th graders in IL have to get it. I’m glad he’ll be protected- it sure sounds awful.</p>