I don't have Pertussis (whooping cough) do I?

[~mamaspice~]

For about a week, I have had a persistant cough that has been driving me (and no doubt bub in my tummy) absolutely crazy. It started with a slightly sore throat and a slightly congested nose for a couple of days then I developed the cough. It is more irritating than anything. The cough seems to start in my throat with either a tickly feeling or just the overwhelming need to cough. It happens all day, but surprisingly seems to settle when I go to bed, but as soon as I get up in the morning it starts again. It doesn't make me vomit or gasp for air like I've read that whooping cough does. But I'm just a little concerned as it seems to be sticking around.

DD has had a similar thing (obviously I caught it off her) but she is fully immunised against pertussis, so that's another reason why I'm assuming it that it probably isn't whooping cough.

Now DH is starting to get a bit of a cough, but he says he hasn't had any other cold like symptoms.

I guess I'm just hoping for a little reassurance.

[Lulu]

That horrible cough has been getting people all over the place - it just seems to hang around for AGES. If you are not doing the signature WHOOP on drawing the breath I would say you are clear.

xoxoxo

Now go to bed and look after yourself.

[black_rose]

I had it for three weeks and it seems to be finally going. Gp said it was just a virus, nothing serious but the cold weather makes it worse. The coughing made my belly ache too.

[Lulu]

Drink lots but warm ones. I have a good recipe for a natural remedy you can take as much you like and can soothe the irritable cough.

[Little Chicken]

This is according to Dr Google:

Signs and Symptoms

The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a common cold:

* runny nose
* sneezing
* mild cough
* low-grade fever
Adults and adolescents with whooping cough may have milder or atypical symptoms, such as a prolonged cough without the coughing spells or the whoop.

Gotta love Dr Google! lol. I doubt you do though, probably just a cold, my colds always end in prolonged coughs. If in doubt go to a doctor and ask to be tested.

[widdly]

DS just woke up not long ago with a terrible coughing fit, complete with WHOOP sound. But I gave him some Benadryl and Panadol and he has gone back to sleep with no more coughs so far, fingers crossed it doesnt get any worse, not nice watching your child struggling to breathe between coughs

[~mamaspice~]

Thanks so much for the replies guys. I'm hopeful it's just one of those irritating viruses that seems to be hanging around.

Lulu, would love the recipe for your natural remedy if you're willing to share? Is it diabetes friendly tho? I have GDM

[Lisa]

I had whooping cough last year when I was pregnant with Anelise... it is one of the worst things I have ever had

I don't think what you have is whooping cough but I'm not going to say it's not. My symptoms were non stop coughing with the Whoop when trying to take a breath in... coughing until I vomited... aches all down my sides & in my ribs from coughing so much.

Another thing... my DD1 & DS2 contracted whooping cough and all of my children are fully immunised against whooping cough.

[~mamaspice~]

I had whooping cough last year when I was pregnant with Anelise... it is one of the worst things I have ever had

I don't think what you have is whooping cough but I'm not going to say it's not. My symptoms were non stop coughing with the Whoop when trying to take a breath in... coughing until I vomited... aches all down my sides & in my ribs from coughing so much.

Another thing... my DD1 & DS2 contracted whooping cough and all of my children are fully immunised against whooping cough.

No, mine certainly doesn't seem as serious as what you describe so I'm all good.

[~mamaspice~]

I had whooping cough last year when I was pregnant with Anelise... it is one of the worst things I have ever had

I don't think what you have is whooping cough but I'm not going to say it's not. My symptoms were non stop coughing with the Whoop when trying to take a breath in... coughing until I vomited... aches all down my sides & in my ribs from coughing so much.

Another thing... my DD1 & DS2 contracted whooping cough and all of my children are fully immunised against whooping cough.

Gosh, mine certainly doesn't seem as severe as what you had Lisa. I think I'm in the clear by the sounds of that.

[Shanti]

Hope you feel better soon Mamaspice. It's awful having a persistent cough especially when you're pregnant!! I remember when I was around 25weeks pg with DD that I had a cough that lasted about 2 weeks and would cough ALL the time it was soooo annoying and like you said, no doubt be annoying for bub.....

Rest up.

[mrsmac]

I had whooping cough 2 years ago and it was just a really awful cough. No whoop (the GP said it was because I had been immunised I wouldn't whoop)
I would get tested JIC.

[Schmickers]

Adults don't always whoop because they have much wider airways, so when they draw in a big breath, you don't hear the sound. In children's it's caused by the air whistling because it is being drawin into the airways so quickly. Very little babies often don't whoop either because they just can't breathe in fast enough to cause the sound.

The pertussis vaccine is about 90% effective, and lasts for about 5 years. Unless you have had a booster as an adult, you are probably susceptible to the pertussis virus. And because of it's limited effectiveness, one in 10 children will still have no immunity to it either. That is one of the reasons why we still have regular outbreaks of the disease - even in a perfect world where every child was immunised with no side effects, there would still be 10% of the population who could catch the disease.