I suspect DS1 has whooping cough

[kelebek]

That sounds very scary I hope your gut is wrong


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[onthefly]

Oh how awful for you all! Either way, I hope they're both well soon - coughs are really terrible things, never mind WC.

[willow5]

Poor little guys hope it's not WC and they're feeling better soon

The vaccines aren't 100% effective, also there is more than one strain of WC so it's possible that even when vaxed you could still get the other strain not covered in the vax.

Here's hoping it's neither for your little ones!

[Lisa B]

I hope you guys get on top of it, whatever it is, really soon. Big hugs.

[AndiE]

Thanks all for your replies.

Both boys had a bad night's sleep (and no suprises, so did mum and dad LOL). DS1 is still coughing and turning red. You can even see him struggling to take that first gulp of air after a coughing fit. If it isn't wc, he certainly has a chest infection albeit the dr didn't think so last Friday. DS2 still has a rash which I think might be viral (only because nothing has changed with his diet. bathing etc). Both boys are out out of sorts, and DS2 particularly whingey. To be honest, DS2 is driving me spare. He hasn't stopped whingeing about anything and everything from the moment he woke up. I'm couting to ten lots and trying to deep breathe.

Thank God my boss is understanding - I've had so many days off work with sick kids this year it's not funny. When my boys are sick like this is when I wish we did have some family close by (my parents and ILs interstate) - not so we could dump the kids on them, but they would gladly help us out when the kids are sick. Thankfully DH is coming home later this morning to help me out at the dr's and to help me out in general. One sick child is reasonably easily managed ... but two can be a handful. Thank God for ABC2!

Sorry for the whinge. Hopefully we get the test results back this morning

[willow5]

Hope all went well at the doctor.

[Schmickers]

Sounds a lot like whooping cough to me as well. Unfortunately, at best the vaccination is about 90% effective, with some studies suggesting it can be only 60% effective - so that means at best 1 in 10 children will still be susceptible to the disease. It always pays to be vigilant.

The good news is that at their age, the disease is not life threatening, although it can be quite disruptive, not the least due to lack of sleep! Unfortunately, medications do not usually help with the symptoms - antibiotics may shorten the length of time they are contagious, but the symptoms are caused by a toxin released by the pertussis germ early in the disease - so even eradicating the germ itself does not necessarily stop the cough.

Good luck with it.