Newborn whooping cough?

[user1464279374]

Hi all,

My baby is nearly 5 weeks old and in the past week has developed a cough and what seems like real difficulty breathing. He has no cold symptoms, he just coughs (infrequently but intensely) and then seems to be gasping for air. It's so frightening to watch. He is also vomiting up his milk a lot and producing a stringy white phlegm.

I had the whooping cough jab whilst pregnant so I'm not sure if it's still possible that he has it, but does anyone think that could be the culprit? I called NHS 111 and went to see a Dr yesterday but he only very quickly listened to his chest and said it was 'just an infection' and babies often get it a couple of times a year, nothing you can do. From my googling (dangerous I know...) it seems that a lot of people who's babies had whooping cough didn't show any signs of it through a simple listen to the lungs, so I don't feel reassured.

Has anyone had experience of their newborn having a bad cough/struggling to breathe, and did you get a diagnosis? Since birth he's often coughed and choked a bit immediately after a feed, or during, so he might just have an immature system, but I really want to do something to help him!

Thanks in advance.

I would take him to A&E, tbh. Sounds like it could be bronchiolitis, and he may need help with his breathing.

If youre worried about his breathing definately get him seen asap. But if he has another coughing bout could you video it to show the dr? If you had the immunisation than i think its unlikely to be that but they can test for it up with a viral throat swab.

If its been going on since birth it could just be him getting used to feeding or maybe having a bit of reflux or something. But at his age, any worries you have definately get him checked out.

If you ever suspect whooping cough the best thing to do is record it. With whooping cough the patient can be fine between coughing fits leading doctors to think there's nothing too wrong. It's a distinctive cough, going on and on until gasping for air but not all people have the gasp for air part, which leads to even more confusion! Lungs will often sound clear and it won't show on an x ray. The only thing that's reliable is a blood test. The swabs aren't even that reliable after a few weeks.
As you had the vaccine it's highly unlikely but it does sound like it to me. I'd go to A&E given your dc's age and tell them it's suspected whooping cough.
By the way I'm not a doctor but four of my family members have had it including me. Not one doctor diagnosed it properly for me until I spoke with a gp who specialises in it. He helped my mum get an early diagnosis too. His website is whoopingcough.net

My ds caught it at 2 weeks old. He stopped breathing and I called 999. I spent ten months in and out of hospital. . Get a second opinion...

Ds (10 so not a baby!!) currently has WC. It sounds a lot like your baby does too from what you've said - if ask for blood tests and if it's within 3 weeks of starting I'd also ask for antibiotics which may or may not help symptoms but will reduce contagiousness.

I don't think it that unlikely as the jab is not very effective and there are mutated types. Docs should do a swab...poor bubba. You can take high dose vit c to pass through milk if bf?

My initial thought was reflux - it can sometimes cause a cough. Try gaviscon etc?
If he's struggling to breathe take him to try a and e