sigh, pertussis

[LeighB]

I can deal with all the Vpds if my dd(9 months) were to get them. But for some reason I can't get over pertussis. It scares the heck out of me. The vaccine, of course, is also the one I have the biggest problem with. It's also the only one my ped recommends. He totally agrees about delaying or not doing the rest. I'm just really unsure.
What do I need to know about pertussis and where can I get truthful information?
Thanks!

[AutumnMama]

A couple of things: Pertussis is generally a summer disease, and it's usually more dangerous to babies under 6 months.

I'm sure the Mamas here will have more/better info for you, but that's just from off the top.

Oh, DTaP is also one of the most reactive vaccines. DD had the classic "DTaP scream" for about an hour. I have truly never heard a baby scream like that before or since, it was terrifying.

[ZoeyZoo]

Originally Posted by AutumnMama

A couple of things: Pertussis is generally a summer disease, and it's usually more dangerous to babies under 6 months.

I'm sure the Mamas here will have more/better info for you, but that's just from off the top.

Oh, DTaP is also one of the most reactive vaccines. DD had the classic "DTaP scream" for about an hour. I have truly never heard a baby scream like that before or since, it was terrifying.

This is basically what I was going to mention. We are past pertussis season so the chance of getting it soon is lower. It usually only requires hospitalization if the baby catches it within the frst 6 months (which you are past).

Many of the pertussis cases are misdiagnosed as bronchitis. The "whoop" in the cought being one of the main differences. I do not like the reactions and ingredients in the vax so I don't do it for my children.

If it makes you feel any better the department of health in your state will have stats on how often it occurs in your state. When I looked up my state it was next to nothing...
There are 307 cases total in CO for 2007.
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/CODi...ics/index.html
Cases of viral meningitis were actually higher.

[Full Heart]

Are you concerned about your baby getting it before she turns 1? Or just getting it at all?

You can check out whoopingcough.net they have great info.

The series is not very effective at preventing pertussis. So even if you do vax she could still get it. But I was just wonder what specifically you were worried about. 5 of my 7 had pertussis at the same time. The other 2 weren't born yet. Honestly its not as scary as everyone makes it out to be. Everyone talks about these horrible coughing attacks. But they do not last long at all (you can see a coughing episode at the site above, its a classic attack and that is how long they last). Some children only have a few a day, some have them every 15 min at the peak of the illness. Kids are not "sick" except for a few days about 2 weeks before the coughing starts. They are normal children. They just cough. Occasionally a child will get more sick but its pretty rare. Like a child getting more sick from chicken pox. It can happen but its rare. Whooping cough is one of those diseases that many people don't even know they have. Drs. don't even recognize it unless its the classic Whoop, which of my 5 only 2 had. The biggest thing is that its a long drawn out "illness". Its not like Roseola or Chicken pox thats over in a week.

I don't know about why your dr is for pertussis. It seems that if a dr is ok with not vaxing there seems to be always 1 pet vax they recommend. I would ask him exactly why he recommends it and then do the research yourself to see if his concerns match up with facts.

[onlyboys]

My 8 month old got pertussis, as did my then 2 year old and both were fine, though it was very scary. Once I understood what was happening, it was much less scary. They each had a period of time at night where they would cough and cough and cough and cough and cough. They turned reddish purple and then would gag and throw up a mucousy, but more watery substance. Then they cried and nursed and went back to sleep. It was a very long 4-5 weeks, and it was only bad for about 2.

I don't mean to downplay the scariness or the seriousness of the disease for some, but for my kids (both of whom were breastfeeding and taking SA supplements) it wasn't as scary as a vax reaction one of my sons had.

[Gitti]

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=577493

[LeighB]

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies!
I think what I am most worried about is her getting it at all. At first, I was worried she'd get it before 6 months old, when it is most dangerous. Now I'm worried about her having the coughing fits for so long. I think I have a fear of it because the first thing I read when I was researching was that the coughing fits are so bad sometimes the child stops breathing, and that's why it can be fatal. I'll look at the links posted and do a bit more research.
Thanks!

[Sileree]

I hope this info is helpful.

“Most cases were relatively mild… If whooping cough is commonly a mild disease and likely to be missed, what are the implications for clinical practice?… Information for professionals and the public should give a more balanced view of the natural course of whooping cough, recognising the high prevalence of mild cases… Parents of children with the disease or in contact with it should be reassured that serious illness with complications is unlikely…”

[“Natural Course of 500 Consecutive Cases of Whooping Cough: A General Practice Population Study.” British Medical Journal.]

“From October 1990 to September 1996… 2,043 cases of B. pertussis were isolated in children 9 years of age or younger, all unvaccinated... 90.2% had paroxysmal cough, 78.9% demonstrated whooping, and 53.3% presented with posttussive vomiting and 5.7% had fever 38°C… The overall complication rate was 5.8%, and pneumonia (29%) was the most frequent complication. In infants <6 months of age, the rate of complications was 23.8%. Of all 101 infants 6 months of age, 3.2% and 15.9% were reported to have pneumonia and apnea, compared with 1.6% and 0.1% in patients >6 months of age, respectively. There were no seizures reported in this study; however, one 4-month-old infant required several weeks of ventilatory support after cardiopulmonary failure, and one death occurred in a 7-month-old appearing as a sudden infant death."

[“Clinical Findings in Bordetella pertussis Infections: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Surveillance Study.” Pediatrics.]

“The findings of efficacy studies have not demonstrated a direct correlation between antibody response and protection against pertussis disease.”

[CDC. “Pertussis Vaccination: Use of Acellular Pertussis Vaccines Among Infants and Young Children Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.” MMWR.]

Pertussis Complications by Age 1997-2000

• <6 months – 63% hospitalized, 11% pneumonia, 1.4% seizures, 0.2% encephalopathy, 0.8% died
• 6-11 months – 28% hospitalized, 8.6% pneumonia, 0.7% seizures, 0.1% encephalopathy, 0.1% died
• 1-4 years – 10% hospitalized, 5.4% pneumonia, 1.2% seizures, 0.1% encephalopathy, <0.1% died
• 5-9 years – 3.1% hospitalized, 2.5% pneumonia, 0.5% seizures, 0 encephalopathy, 0.1% died
• 10-19 years – 2.1% hospitalized, 1.9% pneumonia, 0.3% seizures, 0.1% encephalopathy, 0 deaths

[CDC. “Pertussis – United States, 1997-2000.” MMWR.]

[Arwyn]

I was at a children's hospital the other day, and they had vaccine ads everywhere (Naked Baby pulled one down off the wall -- I tried not to be too pleased ). The one for the pertussis vax had a picture of an alarmed looking 1yo saying "Whooping cough sounds scary!" I thought it was highly ironic, because they're right, whooping cough does sound scary, but usually, it's really not.

[Sileree]

Originally Posted by Arwyn

(Naked Baby pulled one down off the wall -- I tried not to be too pleased ).

Good kid.

[ghannit]

Originally Posted by onlyboys

My 8 month old got pertussis, as did my then 2 year old and both were fine, though it was very scary. Once I understood what was happening, it was much less scary. They each had a period of time at night where they would cough and cough and cough and cough and cough. They turned reddish purple and then would gag and throw up a mucousy, but more watery substance. Then they cried and nursed and went back to sleep. It was a very long 4-5 weeks, and it was only bad for about 2.

I don't mean to downplay the scariness or the seriousness of the disease for some, but for my kids (both of whom were breastfeeding and taking SA supplements) it wasn't as scary as a vax reaction one of my sons had.

Thanks for this detailed description. Would you mind describing the vax reaction too? Like the OP, I'm quite nervous about Pertussis. I believe that I might have more to worry about with the vax though. So glad to be hearing from parents who experienced both with their children!

[onlyboys]

My 2nd child had a reaction to a routine series of shots. His reaction was a fever of more than 105, high pitched screaming, and then febrile seizures. This was a little tiny baby, too. We ended up in the hospital that night, and they told us it was a "virus" that just happened to coincide with his vaxes that day. I thought he was going to die, and I'm not being dramatic. Even for days afterward, he had shivering episodes that were super scary.

The pertussis component was eventually blamed for the incident--the ped said it is THE most reactive component of any vaccine. They offered to leave it out for the rest of the series, and we politely declined anymore vaccines.

[saintmom]

Three of my six had the high pitched screaming,fever,the first 24 hrs.#6 a seizure collapse,vomiting,within the hour.He now has an
'atypical seizure disorder.#7 has never had any vaxes.

[Otterella]

Also, when kids do die "of" pertussis, pertussis rarely is the "real" cause of death. The problem is when they get bronchitis or pneumonia along with pertussis. Then the bronchitis or pneumonia starts a coughing fit, and the pertussis keeps it going until the patient suffocates. While that sounds really scary, the truth is that bronchitis and pneumonia are very easily preventable and treatable nowadays. That kind of comorbidity was far more common in the days before things like hand washing and antibiotics became commonplace.

[ckumelos]

I have a homeopathic doctor, and she has treatment for pertussis. I've read about many people administering the homeopathic cure and it works.

[love2all]

My 3 kids had wc when the youngest was 6 weeks old-
yes it sucked and was a LLLLOOOONNGGGG 7 weeks but we got thru it ok with accupuncture- it eased the severity of cough in the babe...
also, he would have got it if I were a vaxing mama- just because of his youth he would not have been shot-up yet....I think the reaction - if I had vaxed- would/could have been worse than the 6 weeks we went thru-
ie lifelong issues..

[janellesmommy]

Pertussis is no fun at all, but it's certainly nothing to be scared of in a 9 month old. Look into sodium ascorbate. It helps to neutralize the toxins caused by the bacteria.

[ghannit]

Originally Posted by onlyboys

My 2nd child had a reaction to a routine series of shots. His reaction was a fever of more than 105, high pitched screaming, and then febrile seizures. This was a little tiny baby, too. We ended up in the hospital that night, and they told us it was a "virus" that just happened to coincide with his vaxes that day. I thought he was going to die, and I'm not being dramatic. Even for days afterward, he had shivering episodes that were super scary.

I feel ill imagining this scenario. Part of that feeling is attributable to the hospital telling you off-handedly that it was a virus. As though they were prepped to say that??

The pertussis component was eventually blamed for the incident--the ped said it is THE most reactive component of any vaccine. They offered to leave it out for the rest of the series, and we politely declined anymore vaccines.

My ped wanted to give my dd the dtap at 2 months old (here it includes polio and hib) because pertussis "could kill her" apparently. I had a gut feeling that I might want to take this with a grain of salt although I feel her intentions were very good. She never mentioned that pertussis was the most reactive when I told her I had concerns about vaccine reactions. I even called the government health agency to see what dtap they used-- and they told me NOTHING about pertussis being reactive, even though I expressed my concerns and asked if I could get the pertussis alone if I wanted to. I'm relieved that at least your ped was knowledgeable and up-front with you.

[ghannit]

Originally Posted by saintmom

Three of my six had the high pitched screaming,fever,the first 24 hrs.#6 a seizure collapse,vomiting,within the hour.He now has an
'atypical seizure disorder.#7 has never had any vaxes.

Is #7 doing as well? Do you notice any differences in general health yet?

[ghannit]

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