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Whooping Cough in older child

6 replies

MissDollyMix · 09/08/2024 19:47

DD (11) is in about her third week of whooping cough (for the record she was fully vaccinated). First week started as a mild cold, we thought nothing of it, second week things turned scary as she started having these awful coughing attacks where she’d go blue and end up vomiting. Scared the lights out of me so I took her to the GP who diagnosed WC and prescribed antibiotics to stop her being infectious. She’s now finished her course of antibiotics so at least I’m reassured she’s not spreading it about but her symptoms are just as bad as ever. If anything she’s getting worse. Poor kid is totally exhausted - she can’t keep any food down and is usually up at least once a night every night with these awful coughing/vomiting attacks. I feel so awful for her. She’s normally so full of life, loves her sport, she’s meant to be doing various different sports camps this summer but even walking down the street seems to trigger an attack so running around a football pitch (for example) will be totally out of question. She’s due to start secondary school in less than a month and I’m so worried she won’t be any better by then - there’s no way she’d be able to go to school in her current condition. GP doesn’t seem to be able to offer any advice on the actual management of symptoms other than ‘call an ambulance if she stops breathing’ 🙄 Has anyone else experienced this? Any tips on what I can do to help her?

OP posts:
WishICouldWinnow · 09/08/2024 19:51

What advice do you think he can he offer though? it’s sounds awful but it just takes time.

Whooping Cough in older child
Melroses · 09/08/2024 19:58

Good food, sunshine and rest.

Give her body what it needs to fight and recover from the infection.

MissDollyMix · 09/08/2024 20:04

It’s frustrating trying to get her to healthily when nearly every meal ends up getting brought back up.
Honestly, feel like going Victorian style and taking her to the seaside for some fresh sea air! I’d try anything right now.

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Disuf · 13/08/2024 08:08

As much rest as possible, sitting in the garden in the sunshine - that sort of thing.

i had whooping cough a few months ago and all you can do is rest and let it run its course. The paroxysmal cough phase of the illness feels like it’s going to go on forever but it will start to improve soon - it will be extremely slow and sometimes she’ll slip backwards rather than progressing but it WILL get better. I was unable to go to work for a month and still struggling for 2 weeks after that but was able to keep food down and the coughing wasn’t as frequent. I’m over 100 days in now and the cough still catches me occasionally but coughing until I retch has only happened once in the last month.

re: school, she should be well enough to go in in 3 weeks time, but do let staff know in advance that she has had whooping cough and has been very unwell. She may struggle with a full day or just need small adjustments like being allowed to leave the classroom if she has a coughing fit.

Tholeonagain · 15/08/2024 22:29

https://whoopingcough.net/ This is a great site. My 12 year old had it - I think - 6 months ago. The nasty coughing bouts stopped a long time ago, but she still has an irritating normal-sounding cough sometimes… Also fully vaccinated…

Comprehensive information and advice about whooping cough

Whooping cough knowledge. Listen to what it sounds like. Find out about treatment, help with self-diagnosis, email for free advice.

https://whoopingcough.net

MissDollyMix · 21/08/2024 00:43

Sorry just catching up with this again now. Thank you to those who took the time to post advice. Good news is that DD is doing so much better! She even had the confidence and energy to go to a friend’s house this afternoon, so if anyone is reading this in the future looking for hope re whooping cough- it does get better!
Bad news is that DH and DS also now have it. DH is very much in phase 2 and having crazy coughing fits but at least unlike DD they don’t make him sick. DS is a worry because he’s supposed to be going into yr10 in a couple of weeks and he really can’t afford to miss time off school, fortunately we caught his symptoms earlier than DD and DH though so he got the antibiotics earlier and I’m really hoping that this will help shorten the course for him. Me? I seem to be immune!
I can’t believe what a horrible illness it is. I’m so glad my DC were vaccinated as babies and didn’t have to face it when they were tiny. I honestly would pay to have a booster vaccine if only that were an option….

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