have I just been sentenced to seclusion?

[sanguine_speed]

It looks like my 3-month-old has pertussis (not here to debate whether she actually does).

For how long is it contagious? Do we have to stay home until all symptoms are gone? That coughing could last weeks or months .

[tanyalynn]

What I read was 21 days after the coughing starts. It looks like there is some variation in how long people are infectious but 21 days seemed to be the consensus, at least from my reading. Unless you give antibiotics, then it's 5 days after the course starts.

[EVC]

Yup, based on what I've read lately, it's 3 weeks without antibiotics and 5 days with (at least this is what daycares and schools require).

[japonica]

Yes, the PPs are right...

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/sur...-pertussis.htm

Persons with pertussis are infectious from the beginning of the catarrhal stage through the third week after the onset of paroxysms or until 5 days after the start of effective antimicrobial treatment.

We kept DS quarantined for 21 days after his first coughing episode...it was tough later as he was recovering because his coughing was less and he felt fine in between coughing spells but we still had to keep him home.

With a 3 month old though, you'd probably be looking for some medical support as it can be serious for infants. My DS was 23 months old, so it was manageable at home, but a friend's daughter was 7 months old when she had it and was briefly hospitalized.

Good luck!