whooping cough....possible despite vaccination?

[hazeyjane]

Dd2 (10) has had an awful cough for weeks, Dr originally said it was caused by catarrh stuck on chest.

The last week and a half when she has a coughing fit, it involves a weird whooping in of breath, then she can't get a breath in, goes very red in the face, bloodshot eyes, makes this awful noise....and she obviously panics. When she can finally get a breath, it comes in big belching gulps and it sounds like she is going to be sick....then repeat with the whoop. Twice she has coughed stuff up. (once water and once blood....I think she had had a nosebleed from coughing so much and swallowed blood).

She is having these coughing fits night and day, and at night it will happen 4 or 5 times (we are all shattered!) in between coughing fits she has been well...tired, but we'll, no temp no cold symptoms.

We saw another Dr yesterday after a particularly bad coughing fit, and he said although it would be unusual, it could possibly be whooping cough (she's had all vaccines), and has prescribed Clarythromycin.

If it was whooping cough am I right to think she would be past the contagious stage? Also it seems really unlikely as apart from the awful coughing, she seems well.

Has anyone's child had whooping cough despite vaccine....how were they?

[Ethelswith]

NHS advice is that you are contagious until about 3 weeks after onset of coughing (which often typically lasts 2-3 months)

Whooping cough went round here a few years ago, and quite a lot of people (me included) had an enduring (and sometimes actually whooping) cough. It's milder in those who have been vaccinated.

I scared myself silly when my cough (which I just thought was nasty tail end of a cold) went on beyond the 4th week (because 3wks+ is when you should see GP). So I may have played a part in spreading because it simply didn't occur to me that that's what I could possibly have had. Never got a formal diagnosis, btw, just discovered there was a local outbreak and confirmed cases in the school (told that by parent of an afflicted, previously immunised, DC who was coughing for ages but not particularly unwell with it).

[Scrambledheads]

Your poor DD! And poor you, must be terrifying. I have no advice - my mum caught whooping cough age 56 from her class (she was a teacher) and I forced her to go to the GP as her case was classic. I recorded the 'whoop' on my phone and played it to the gp. She used to vomit from the coughing. I gave her my sons ultrasonic humidifier (he has awful asthma) and it really helped her during the night. She seemed to be able to bring up the thick secretions easier and she definitely coughed less until the antibiotics kicked in. I know that you can still get mild cases after being vaccinated, but it doesn't seem mild from your description. Hope your DD is better soon.

[schoggiweggli]

I was vaccinated and still had it. It was back in 1978, so don't remember much except having g to miss school carol concert. I'm told it was much less serious than it would have been had I not been vaccinated.

[TwigTheWonderKid]

Current evidence shows that the vaccination is only really effective for 4-7 years after the last dose so it's highly possible she is no longer immune and has developed Whooping Cough.

[hazeyjane]

Thanks all, so it is a possibility.

Dr has called to say, if the cough starts clearing up as a result if the Clarithromycin, then she should come in for a throat swab.

We have been using a humidifier, Vicks and increased inhalers (she is asthmatic) and we have been playing musical beds for a week, so she can sleep propped up with me.

So if cough started before the end of term, albeit without the whoop then, she shouldn't be typhoid Mary now.

100 day cough, sheesh....

[Dumbledoreswarrier]

My DD had a similar cough over the summer despite having had all the vaccinations. In her case it only happened at night, not during the day. We filmed it to show the doctor and he immediately the tested her for whooping cough and put her on antibiotics. The result came back negative, but apparently unless the tests are done in the first few days it can still be whooping cough despite a negative result(?) The good news was that the cough only lasted about a month in the end, so fingers crossed for you!

[shewolfmum]

Yes it doesn't work very well (the jab) and there are different strains not covered by the jab. Susanne humphries has a wc vitamin c protocol that helps imensley .. you can google it

[krisskross]

Yes. My dd did earlier this year despite having the vaccination. The vaccination reduces your chance of getting it and then you get a milder version of it apparently.

I ended up filming dd as the gp couldn't hear anything. I suggested after showing her the film that it might be WC so she swabbed for it. It was positive.

[krisskross]

Meant to say....we had anriobiotics and it eventuslly went completely after 4 months. Nightmare.

[yikesanotherbooboo]

Often less severe in vaccinated children. My DD had it at 8 , she coughed( as expected ) for 3 months and vomited frequently. Poor girl, but no serious after effects.

[hazeyjane]

A little update

Apparently not whooping cough.

Dd2 is still having the coughing fits, and after playing the recording of one to another Dr, they think it could be something called laryngospasm, so she has been referred to hospital.

[shewolfmum]

But they haven't swabbed and tested?

[bettyboo40]

I'm glad your son is ok. My nephew (10) was recently diagnosed and he did have the vaccination. He has been very poorly.

[hazeyjane]

Not swabbed as the test sent was the wrong one.