Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

Our Ped said pertussis is a threat currently. Just curious about people's experiences here.
Since they need three separate doses of the vaccine...and the Ped said in adults, you might not know they have it except for a lingering cough...which my SIL has, I'm getting scared!

(I have 8w old twins. SIL hasn't seen them yet b/c she's had this undiagnosed cough. )

Message edited 12/6/2012 12:38:12 AM.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

I don't if it currently going around but I know it has been every year for a while. I have seen teachers on here saying they had it at their school. I know a mom on here said her child had it. Can't remember who but maybe last year or the year before. I do know my OB said a while back that usually parents or grandparents are the ones who end up passing it to their kids.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

I haven't heard of it going around but it is important to get the shot for yourself and DH and for anyone who will be around the babies a lot (like baby sitters)

I got the shot in the hospital, my DH will get his soon and my immediate family and ILs are getting it also.

Is Pertussis

I was re vaccinated and so was DH. My doc, DH's doc and our ped said it was good we did it because it is around.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

As already stated, in recent years it has been around. I would absolutely ask close family members who spend lots of time with your kids (grandparents mainly) to get the shot, along with you and DH.

I don't know exactly how they diagnose it but has your sister been to the doctor? If not, I would ask her to go before she comes around your babies. Have you asked your ped when the babies will be considered to have immunity? I know my ped told me with the Hep B shot that they have immunity not long after the first shot but that they need the two additional shots to make it a lasting immunity. Maybe your kids are already protected? It's worth asking.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

Each shot they get offers a little more immunity- so while they are not fully immune until they get all 3 doses, each one they do get makes them a little more less likely to get it.

I don't know anyone who has had pertussis or the symptoms but I can tell you I had a cough for a month- that stuck around from a lingering cold- and it was NOT pertussis so your SIL is most likely not infected- but to be safe I might ask her to see a Dr to rule it out

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

Yes, it is definitely going around.

Already got two notices of children in DD's school that were diagnosed with it.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

There was a case at daycare.

Is Pertussis

They've been hyping it up a LOT latey. I have seen billboards declaring it is our duty to protect our children from the whooping cough and get the immunization.

There are graphs and maps showing its severity over the US. There's charts and doctors on TV talking of its effect. There are stories of death and heart ache.

My question was is this any higher than normal? Vaccinations are never a cure-all. Just because you get a flu shot doesn't mean you won't ever get the flu. Same for this one. So do people still get sick with the shot? Do they still have deaths? The answers were yes. Has it gotten 'worse' or have they been tracking it better? It was misdiagnosed before or not tracked. So really has anything changed? Not especially but yes folks ARE less vaccinated than before due to the fears that come with it.

AJ is mostly vaccinated for her age. She still needs 3 more before she turns 5.

I do not have this vaccination since I was a kid and neither does my husband. I forgot to ask him to talk to the doc about it when HE went. He said the doc didnt even mention it to him.

My doc said nothing to me either.

AJ went in for her shot in August and they said nothing to me there either.

I asked a few of my coworkers since I hear so much about it here and we all read about it in the news and none of their doctors have said anything either.

SO *shrug*

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

We just got a call this week from our school district of a confirmed case of Pertussis in our middle school. And they did mention that the student does have a sibling in the district.

This is now the 4th phone call we have had since last year warning us of a case in our district.

I have a 4 months old so it kind of scares me. My two older sons are vaccinated but can they still bring it home and pass it to the baby?

Pertussis is very dangerous and perhaps deadly to an infant.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

DH had it a year an a half ago. He had not been vaccinated since he was a child. Let me tell you, it was no picnic. He was so sick with the worst gut wrenching cough for weeks. Coughing to the point of almost vomiting. He did not feel back to normal for months. Trust me, you know when you have it. Maybe not right away, but as it gets worse. It was not just a lingering cough for him. I have since gotten a booster shot for it. He has some level of immunity since he just had it. My kids are up to date on vaccines. I would not wish pertussis on anyone. I can't even imagine how awful it would be for a child to get it.

Also, DD just turned one when DD had it. She had two out of the three dtap vaccines and the pediatrician was not too worried that she would get it. I was given antibiotics as a preventative measure and never got it.

Eta. With each booster kids are more immune but they do have some level of immunity even after just the first shot.

Message edited 12/6/2012 10:32:05 AM.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

Message edited 12/6/2012 12:44:51 PM.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

My niece had it in 2007. She WAS fully vaccinated but doctors said its become more prevalent since more people started not to vaccinate and cocooning effect is being weakened.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

This is the time of year for it.

I don't know anyone who has had it recently, but I did know someone in 2007 whose newborn contracted it. It was her 4th child, born November 1st, she was extremely laid back about taking the baby out and about (my baby shower was late November 2007 and this baby was in attendance) and she contracted it at about 6 weeks old.

Message edited 12/6/2012 1:19:44 PM.

Is Pertussis

My exH got it right after we got married - it was bad - he was turning purple from coughing/choking/not being able to catch his breath. He was able to remain calm which helped but a baby wouldn't. I think he got it on the plane. I got sick too but my doc gave me a different med. It took exH about 3 docs to get the correct diagnosis b/c he finally had a coughing fit in the docs office. Neigher of us, or anyone around us got another shot after DS was born.

Re: Is Pertussis "going around?" do you know someone (esp an infant/child) who has/had it?

Thank you all. This is very helpful!