Whooping Cough Exposure- 8 months

[amandajo]

Hello,

So my DS almost 3 has almost all his vax's. My DS 8 months has just a few, not any DTaP. I actually wanted this one for him as it is "going around" here, but switched Dr's because of the brand I wanted and fell behind so just opted out of it anyways, my ped is supportive as they get around here.

I nanny a girl after school for about an hour a day and we see her often during the weekend. She is maybe 7 (fully vaxed). She has whooping cough. (we are pretty sure but her formal CDC results don't come in till Tuesday... the nasal swab culture test was taken after antibiotics were given 5 days so would it be accurate anyways?)

Should I worry, what can/should I do. I called the nurse at the Dr's who proved to be fully ignorant on everything. I have a sniffle, both boys seem healthy. I understand you get a cold first. Should we not go around other unvaxed babies? Should we go get antibiotics (I dont think that would do much but make us sick for a while). I am pretty anti-drug... including homeo's and vitamins but will take any advice you have.

-Thanks!
Amanda

[MissRubyandKen]

It wouldn't be just unvaccinated kids you should avoid, but everyone. Pertussis is a nasty illness best not shared AT ALL. If it were me I wouldn't do the antibiotics for the kids, but would stick around home to wait and see what happens. I realize this isn't an option for everyone, and they say antibiotics lessen the contagious period. I may seriously consider them for myself with a babe so young in the house. If so get them right away and ask for the swab too. Either way use good hygiene, limit close, face in face contact between baby and household, if you nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse, up vit C intake with foods, and start taking it as easy as possible now so your body has a better chance of fighting this off.

[Ophelia]

Originally Posted by amandajo

the nasal swab culture test was taken after antibiotics were given 5 days so would it be accurate anyways?)

Should I worry, what can/should I do. I called the nurse at the Dr's who proved to be fully ignorant on everything. I have a sniffle, both boys seem healthy. I understand you get a cold first. Should we not go around other unvaxed babies? Should we go get antibiotics (I dont think that would do much but make us sick for a while). I am pretty anti-drug... including homeo's and vitamins but will take any advice you have.

My understanding is that:

-the swab has to be done within the first couple weeks or it may not detect pertussis (and this is the tricky part because the first week or two it just seems like a regular cold so people generally are not going to get tested until it's too late)

-the vax does NOT prevent transmission. What it possibly can do is lessen the severity when someone DOES catch pertussis.

-some threads with info about the antibiotics: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=983281

-Like MissRubyandKen said, lots and lots of Vit C (won't hurt them even if they don't catch it, so I would definitely do this if they have been exposed)

[Marnica]

You said you are not a fan of homeoptahic remedies but if I knew I had been exposed to WC, I would take the Pertussin nosode prophylactically and I would give this to my LO as well. This needs to be prescribed and administered by an ND or homeopath. I would not do antibiotics. And I would be doing high doses of Sodium ascorbate

[amandajo]

Thanks!

Well I called the ped and they said they are not really up for doing antibiotics or a test unless someone shows some good symptoms- they are not worried if we seem to have a cold unless it is a particularly bad one or we get a cough. Even then they seemed to lean towards the wait it out.

They said no need to stay home unless you’re sick, but I think we will lay low anyways.

Thank you all for your help, will up the C intake and stay home and sleep as much as I can. I will post an update when I know anything.