Whooping Cough!!!!

[Marlene]

I got a call from our local Area Health Service today. Apparently two children from our playgroup (brother and sister 3 years old and 4 months old) have been admitted to hospital with whooping cough). The health service are obligated to call all pregnant women and mothers of newborns to advise them of the children's illness. I have been told my whole family and I have to take a course of antibiotics so that I don't get whooping cough which can then cause me to go into early labour and pass it onto my newborn.
Now, the last time the affected children were at playgroup was 9 days ago, and they hadn't actually started coughing yet. What do you think the chances are that my 2.5 year old or I could be carrying whooping cough. Wouldn't we have got symptoms by now?
I just wish that were informed that the mother of these children doesn't immunise as we have two 5 week old babies attending playgroup with their older siblings, now both those families all have to be treated too. Arrgghhhhh!!!!I don;t know the real point of this thread...just a vent really that it's going to cost a fortune for 5 of us to be on AB's. Well, looks like we won't be eating this week!!

[Little Chicken]

Got this from the victorian blue book website

The incubation period is usually between six and 20 days. It is most commonly about 14 days.

and this

Control of contacts
Erythromycin should not be given if more than 14 days have elapsed since the first contact with the infectious case (doses and duration as for cases). In special circumstances, such as a high risk exposure for an infant contact, antibiotics may be given within 21 days of first contact with an infectious case. Antibiotics rarely prevent secondary transmission and should be limited to household or child care contacts at high risk of severe complications that have had direct contact with an infectious case:

infants <12 months of age regardless of vaccination status
any child aged between 12 and 24 months who has received less than three doses of pertussis vaccine
any women in the last month of pregnancy
any child or adult who attends or works at a child care facility.

[Marlene]

Thanks muminalice There are quite a few littlies under 12 months at playgroup, but they only contacted the mums of the newborns.

[Little Chicken]

I also read on one of the pages they don't have to be coughing to be contagious, I'll see if I can find it again.

ETA: Basically the info said that you can be infectious from the first sneeze (it can start with cold like symptoms), up to 21 days from the first cough or to day 5 of a ten day course of antibiotics.

[Marlene]

Yep, I had heard that. Oh man, this really sucks!!!

[~clover~]

Bugger! You don't have a HCC?
Hope it works out!

[LizLemon]

I would be asking the health service if they are willing to provide the antibiotics free of charge. I can't understand why you should be hit with the bill!

This is why I am hesitant to go to play group at the moment while pregnant and when current bubba is born. All of the mums at mine have the attitude "oh it's just a runny nose it's good for everyone's immunity", and I keep saying "but a runny nose is how whooping cough starts!"

Fingers crossed for you that you are ok.

[Marlene]

Sorry, but how do you know they weren't immunised? Did the health service tell you that (which would be a major breech of medical confidentiality) or is it just your assumption?

The mother told us herself when she suspected whooping cough. Don't get me wrong...I am all for personal choice, but I think if there are newborn babies in the group the parents of those newborns have a right to know, as it is such a dangerous thing for a new baby. We are actually a very close group, and nobody is going to treat her any differently because of this, I am just venting here (as I stated in my first post)...I don't wish to start a for and against immunisation argument!!

Anyway, $85 later and we are all on antibiotics!!

[EsJay]

my friend got wc while pregnant her symptoms took 2 weeks after contact to show and swabs confirmed she had it. her dh then got it too. im not sure where u are located, im in the newcastle/hunter valley region and we have been told there is a breakout of wc and chicken pox. vax are offered earlier for newborns and offered to anyone in care or contact with babies at the minute.

[Footsteps]

I really hope you don't have it. Ouch!!! $85 for antibiotics is alot. xxxx

[Marlene]

Ouch!!! $85 for antibiotics is alot. xxxx

Yep, and that was our grocery money till next Saturday

[Yeddi]

The mother told us herself when she suspected whooping cough. Don't get me wrong...I am all for personal choice, but I think if there are newborn babies in the group the parents of those newborns have a right to know, as it is such a dangerous thing for a new baby. We are actually a very close group, and nobody is going to treat her any differently because of this, I am just venting here (as I stated in my first post)...I don't wish to start a for and against immunisation argument!!

Anyway, $85 later and we are all on antibiotics!!

Absolutely people should know about a disease outbreak but this really isn't about a lack of vaccination. The real issue here is the fact she suspected whooping cough and STILL took the kids to playgroup. WTF! That is just insanity to go courting trouble particularly around little babies (you're absolutely right) - horrendous! Like parents sending their kids with whooping cough to school because they didn't want to take time off work. I'm pro-choice when it comes to vaccination but I am also ALL for quarantine.

[mrsmac]

I had whooping cough 2 years ago which wasn't diagnosed until after I was contagious despite me having been to the doctors twice about the cough. I have been vaccinated and none of the children at school caught it from me luckily cause I was teaching throughout the contagious period unbeknownst to me.
I had to have really strong ABs which made me really sick.

Hopefully you will all be OK, bummer about the money, that sucks big time.