what did you do for pertussis in baby

[lovebeingamomma]

if you had known in the early stage that it was pertussis what would you have done different?  I'm taking up to 3000mg of extra vit C myself, she's still mostly breastfed (just bites here and there, no real meals yet).  She's 7 mo's, has had the early signs of pertussis (minor cough, very runny nose for 4 days now..of course this could just be a cold).  I'm just asking because there was an outbreak in our area so she's more at risk, I'm wondering if there's anything else I could give myself to help her.  Thanks.  

[lovebeingamomma]

Please any insight would help, I'm not sure what I should be doing while she's coughing, I just hold her upright and pat her back.  Her coughing fits are getting worse, tonight she couldn't catch her breath and it scared me so much I felt sick.  I went and sat in a steamy bathroom.  Please share any more tips.  If this is not Pertussis, I might as well be treating it as such, the coughing appears to be getting worse, day 7 now.  She seems to only getting them when she's waking up, does that sound normal?

[raquelita]

 i've encountered a lot of anti antibiotics talk here, and i can relate to a point-ds has yet to have any so far but if i had known that he had been exposed to WC and started to get mild cough symptoms i would have taken him to the doctor, gotten him swabbed to know for sure and given him antibiotics to stop it in it's tracks which is only possible in the first phase of the illness. 

we had a really rough experience that lasted for many months and i sure hope you escape this fate! breathing problems are so stressful, especially in one so wee.

i found the steamy bathroom really helpful, back pats and a used a nasal aspirator to clear ds' congested nose(although he absolutely hated it).  i wish i had a miracle answer for you, i remember feeling quite powerless when ds had his coughing fits. 

perhaps look back through the archives?  i believe the pertussis topic has come up a fair amount.

best of luck

[tangledblue]

If you really think it is pertussis I hope you are seeking medical advice in person with a doctor and not just online. 

[rebecca_n]

http://beyondvaccination.com/showthread.php?349-Got-whooping-cough-The-symptoms-Vitamin-C-and-general-management

[raquelita]

right! thank you for posting this. i read it when ds had wc and i found it very helpful. i forgot to say that high c doses really lessened the severity of our experience as compared to other friends and their children who also had it. 

[lovebeingamomma]

Of course I am, I'm bringing her in tomorrow.  Mom's often have additional ideas that doctor's wouldn't think to tell you that's why I ask.
 

Originally Posted by tangledblue 

If you really think it is pertussis I hope you are seeking medical advice in person with a doctor and not just online. 

[lovebeingamomma]

I'm absolutely not against ABX.  I'm bringing her tomorrow to her ped and will ask for a Pertussis test and I will do whatever he suggests, I don't mess around with serious infections.  Of course we don't eve know at this point if it is, but I'm aware that giving ABX early can make a huge difference so I'm being extra cautious.  Thanks for your reply.
 

Originally Posted by raquelita 

 i've encountered a lot of anti antibiotics talk here, and i can relate to a point-ds has yet to have any so far but if i had known that he had been exposed to WC and started to get mild cough symptoms i would have taken him to the doctor, gotten him swabbed to know for sure and given him antibiotics to stop it in it's tracks which is only possible in the first phase of the illness. 

we had a really rough experience that lasted for many months and i sure hope you escape this fate! breathing problems are so stressful, especially in one so wee.

i found the steamy bathroom really helpful, back pats and a used a nasal aspirator to clear ds' congested nose(although he absolutely hated it).  i wish i had a miracle answer for you, i remember feeling quite powerless when ds had his coughing fits. 

perhaps look back through the archives?  i believe the pertussis topic has come up a fair amount.

best of luck

[lovebeingamomma]

thanks!
 

Originally Posted by rebecca_n 

http://beyondvaccination.com/showthread.php?349-Got-whooping-cough-The-symptoms-Vitamin-C-and-general-management

[lovebeingamomma]

I up'd my Vit C intake to 4000mg a day and I think it's helping, she's not eating food food (doesn't want to when I offer) just nursing and she hasn't had any coughing "fits" today.  Still going to take her in tomorrow but I'm so thankful she's not getting out of breath, just coughs here and there.  

[kyrandiam]

  If it is pertussis, and you are past the early stage, there are several things you can do that will help to ease the symptoms. Both of my children had pertussis about a year ago (they were 2 and 4) and I tried everything before I found the remedies that actually helped. We at no point used an antibiotic because this illness really just needs to run its course. Both of my babies are fully recovered and healthy today.

  Their coughs didn't get bad until about week three and that's when the "whooping" sound developed. Because I do not take my children to the doctor for a cold, we had no idea that they had whooping cough until they would vomit a little after a coughing spell. (Started around the end of week two.)

  Some things to help with the coughing are: Steaming, increase in vitamin D, ginger baths, fried onion and cheesecloth compress (used on the chest or feet will help to draw out the toxins), herbal teas, baking soda baths (draws the infection outward to quicken healing time), silver (which can be given to baby as long as the brand states that excess amounts are expelled and no OD is possible) and sleeping upright. These are just a few that I used regularly and can think of off the top of my head.

  I hope your LO is feeling better soon!

[terraka]

Well, I just saw this thread and it seems that I am in this very situation, except we already started antibiotics. Lovebeingmomma, did you find out what it is? I am anxious as we get lab results friday. I think it is frustrating one has to wait for four days before getting the results.

For a child that is not a baby, I would agree that maybe antibiotics can be skipped. But for a baby, I think they are necessary if they help to reduce the severity, which they do.  

[mamayogibear]

As a non-vaxing mama I have thought about what I would do if/when my lo comes down with various diseases. For WC I plan on increasing vitamin a (beta carotene) by giving drops from the health food store (I think a toddler would take around 25,000 IU but am not positive and would love for someone to correct me:) I would also sprinkle SA (sodium ascorbate) on everything. I have oil of oregano on hand that I don't use for myself because I'm still nursing but I give to my kids 1 or 2 drops in coconut oil. I would also pick up a general antibacterial herbal tincure and a few homeopatic items to match their symptoms. I hope that is of some help.