Whooping Cough

[olderwisermum]

Hi,
My two girls (2 and 4) have been suffering for the past 6 weeks with whooping cough. Have any other families been through this terrible disease? The 4 year old seemed to be getting better, but just yesterday started coughing violently again and being sick. Can you get whooping cough again? Does she have lifelong immunity if she ever gets over it? Is it worth immunising them against it now that they've had it?
thank you.

Hi, I'm so sorry....sounds awful. My friend's (now grown up) daughter had whooping cough as a toddler, and my friend says it was scary, stressful, and upsetting...she's never forgotten it. Her dd, on the other hand, is fine and doesn't remember it at all.

As far as I know, its not catchable twice...but I'd ask my GP just to be sure, personally.

Wishing them both well, soon.

i had bad whooping cough as a child (had asthma so wasnt given the vaccine in the 1970's). i also managed to pass it round the family.

my gran's remedy was cloves of garlic in socks worn overnight in bed. very bizarre but mum swears it worked for all of us and helped our breathing and coughing fits.

not sure how much of an old wives tale it was but i suppose anything is worth a try.

i also understand that you get lifelong immunity after you have had it.