Possible whooping cough in 6-month-old...not sure what to do!

[malayasmommy]

Both my 3.5 year old daughter and 6-mo-old son have terrible coughs.  The cough originated from our neighbor (she watches them 2 mornings per week while I work), she got her cough from her friends son.  The friends son was just diagnosed with whooping cough, although he was never tested the Dr is treating him for it based on the sound of his cough.  Describing it, the cough is basically a bad sounding cough, which at the end results in gagging and sometimes throwing up. 

I took them into their pediatrician (who I trust, he's very conservative with antibiotics, he does delayed vax, etc.), he never had a chance to hear the cough but he said that the exposure my children have is "unremarkable" (i.e. not a lot of risk).  He also did explain though, that the danger with whooping cough is that in a 6-mo-old baby it can lead to serious consequences.  (He said that after about 3 wks a toxin starts being produced in the lungs which can make it very difficult to breathe--that's worst case scenario.)

So I'm SURE that if I take him to the Dr's office again they'll want me to give my little guy antibiotics--I hate the idea of his little 6-mo-old body being attacked by antibiotics.  But this cough is starting to get a little scary sounding. 

Everything I read on "mainstream" website make this sound very serious.  Then I read through information on here and it's like "Oh, whooping cough is no big deal, you get natural immunity, it sucked but we ended up being fine after 90 days" but geez...when it's your kid and it's their cough it's hard not be scared! 

Any feedback, personal experiences, etc? 

Thanks so much!

[sbsweetpea]

Mama, I just have a second- do a search here on mothering for Sodium Ascorbate- many families have used it succesfully to shorten the duration and symptoms. Good luck!!

[APToddlerMama]

We also don't vax, but if I thought my infant had whooping cough, I'd start him on antibiotics in a second (we also try not to do them and use the wait and see approach for almost everything else...ear infections, sinus infections, etc.).  I don't think you should mess around.  Antibiotics aren't horrible when they're used sparingly for really serious issues....like whooping cough. 

[AubreyJo]

I agree. I'd go make sure, get the antibiotics and Sodium Ascorbate as a back up. I can't stand antibiotics, but in the case of WC, I'd have my kid on them in a second. 

We all had WC a few years ago. My youngest was 3, at the time, and had a rough time of it at night time. Now, I have a 4 month old, and every time someone coughs near her, I get so upset because NOBODY covers their mouth anymore! 

Hoping we can squeak by her infancy w/o WC. 

Hope your baby feels better 

[malayasmommy]

Just an update, we did do the swab and it turned out he did NOT have whooping cough.  Bad case of bronchitis.  However, I got so freaked out by his cough in the middle of the night that I gave in and gave him the Zithromax.  Wishing now that I hadn't but...coulda shoulda woulda, right???  In any case he seems much better.  Now to heal that little gut back up!!!  Thanks for all your input!