Whooping Cough vaccine may need to change due to mutations

[Little Chicken]

A lot of adults don't know they have it because it manifests more like a cold with a bad cough in them. It is usually only babies and small children that get the characteristic whoop cough. To be safe I would say anyone who has a cough or cold shouldn't go near bub.

[Cherished]

hmmm thanks muminalice, that doesn't really answer my question though can someone be a carrier without having symptoms (even a cold)? I wish I could think of an example but my brain is mush lol. But there are heaps of diseases out there where people can give it to someone without getting it themselves kwim?

[RhiChiChi]

hmmm thanks muminalice, that doesn't really answer my question though can someone be a carrier without having symptoms (even a cold)? I wish I could think of an example but my brain is mush lol. But there are heaps of diseases out there where people can give it to someone without getting it themselves kwim?

Hun, I don't know for sure BUT my gf was immunised against Rubella and when she was pg with her DS she was a CARRIER but not affected by it nor was her son. (she had the rash etc...) So, I would say that it is a high potential that you could be a carrier but not present with symptoms or present with lesser ones (cough but not whoop cough) like muminalice said.

[skybie]

hun majority of bubbies get whopping cough from their parents. if u dnt want bub to have the vaccine then perhaps look into getting u and DH done, im pretty sure its still free.

lol i love how non vaccers are to blame for the increase in whooping cough cases....really??!! hmmmm

[Schmickers]

the contagious period with whooping cough begins with the onset of cough and cold symptoms. By the time the characteristic cough starts, most people have been contagious for some time.

The good news, though, is that whooping cough usually requires an extended period of exposure to spread - it is usually spread between members of the same household, who have had hours in close contact.