Whooping Cough!!!!

[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.

[JennaJayen]

Hubby got whooping cough when I was 16wks preg and we all immediately went on antibiotics as a 'Just in case' measure.
The problem with whooping cough though is that it can come back anywhere from 2-6 months AFTER it finally goes away.
The doctor should do swabs to check for whooping cough and blood tests to check your immunity on you and the kids just in case, especially since it's less than 8 weeks now until you're due and it generally sticks around for 6-8weeks or so when you do have it.
If you are all given the all clear, then everything should be right and bub won't have any problems.
If you or one of the kids do have it though then bub will have to be given a course of antibiotics right after birth - at least that was what I was told by the doctor and what I googled when hubby was diagnosed with it.
FXed everything is all good though!

[Yeddi]

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?