Passing on Pertussis immunity?

[ilovebabies]

I didnt' want to hijack the pertussis thread but reading it made me curious about this and I wanted to ask about it.

I am convinced that I had Pertussis a couple of years ago (coughed for 4 months--was not fun--didn't go to the dr. though, just rode it out) and if so, then I'm assuming that I now have life long immunity. Correct? I've had one child since then and am about to have another (I have 5 children total though). Am i passing that immunity onto them through my bm?

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by ilovebabies

I didnt' want to hijack the pertussis thread but reading it made me curious about this and I wanted to ask about it.

I am convinced that I had Pertussis a couple of years ago (coughed for 4 months--was not fun--didn't go to the dr. though, just rode it out) and if so, then I'm assuming that I now have life long immunity. Correct? I've had one child since then and am about to have another (I have 5 children total though). Am i passing that immunity onto them through my bm?

Pertussis infections do NOT confer life long immunity. Immunity wanes...they think in about 4-5 years, but they are really not sure about this. You can however get pertussis again and again. One only confers lifelong immunity to Viral illneses...pertussis is a bacteria.