Whooping Cough

[WinkyWinkola]

I'm pretty certain my DD (18 mos) has WC.

Week 4 of a cough that sees her bringing up phlegm and snot and eventually vomiting. It's not very often - five or six times a day - but it takes a lot out of her and she's making the characteristic whoop as she draws breath back into her empty lungs.

She's been to the doc 3x now. She's had antibiotics and an inhaler type thing. That's not helped.

I"m trying homeopathic remedy now. Nothing to lose, right?

Is there anything else I can do to ease it and to add to her comfort? Am I missing something out? Anyone got any tips or experience? It seems to have got worse today after a lull of four days.

Its the 100 day cough I'm afraid so another 2 months to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry I don't know what else you can do to help.

www.whoopingcough.net/ Has lots of info.

I had it when I was 2 and, being in a generous mood, I gave it to my Dad.

I hope your DD gets better soon

Cargirl,what is the 100 day cough? I've had a cough since July & am only just getting better now.Is it a virus.I'm really curious as to if it is what I had.

Winky,you have my sympathy.I was advised to breath in steam to loosen the gunk.I found vick rubbed on my chest really helpful too.

Apparantly that is how long whooping cough last - 100 days!

Well, been to the docs today and she said that seeing as DD has had antibiotics, she's no infectious. Just coughing. That's subsiding a bit now. The doctor didn't believe it was whooping cough. But from what I've read the vaccine isn't all that effective.

You can still catch whooping cough if you've been vaccinated in which case the limited immunity that the vaccine gave could have been enough to save your life.

I friends dd caught it at a couple of weeks old, she's spent a lot of time in hospital in HDU it's still a potential killer in this day & age.

I am sure my DS has had WC as well, but of course didn't have a coughing fit when we went to the GP, and she said that she didn't think it was WP because she hadn't seen it in 10 years . What a reason is that?

The bad cough when they are choking on their phlegm lasts about 6 weeks and then it gets better, but they will still get it after they have been running or so, for months after.

there's not much you can do. It only really is dangerous for babies who might not be able to 'whoop', ie catch some breath. As your DD whoops, it will be allright. But it's exhausting for them isn't it. My DS looked like a walking corpse at one stage, so tired.

I enquired when DS was vaccinated against WC and was told the vaccination is not 100% effective. Apparently they initially thought it was very effective but time has shown this not to be the case .

I would definitely agree with Cargirl - the fact it isn't 100% effective is no reason not to have it.