Whooping cough. How contagious is it?

[whichwayisup]

Does anybody know how contagious Whooping Cough is?

 

My sister just called me to tell me that my youngest niece (4 years old) was tested last week for WC and today found out she tested positive. Her older sister (7) tested negative.

 

I'm wondering now, what are my chances of getting it? They came over on Sunday, coughing and snot nosed abit (nothing unusual for this time of year) and I knew (or thought) that was a tail end of a cold...Ofcourse, it's hard NOT to let little ones jump on ya...Got lots of hugs, cuddles and kisses from her. So, with my sister calling me and telling me this, I'm starting to get worried!

 

She's been on Antibotics since Friday.

 

Thanks for any help anybody can give me about this.

[Yamaha]

I believe it is very contagious.

 

I read this somewhere but I can't recall where.

 

I would google it to be sure.

[whichwayisup]

I am Googling it now...

 

f***, this is all I need right now. I know it couldn't be helped, but it still pisses me off. I just wish I'd known that she was being tested for it before they came over!! My sis even said that if she thought of it, (obviously wasn't on her mind over the weekend) she wouldn't have brought them over here.

 

Thanks Y.

[whichwayisup]

Noone has any first hand experience with this?

 

I did a post in the rant section too. I'm trying not to worry here, but honestly GOOGLE isn't helping much...must not google anymore! lol

[whichwayisup]

Bump... ...

[Outcast]

Webmd says it's highly contagious. I suggest Webmd or the CDC or NIH for quickie health questions. And you have to spell right. This site was the second on my list when I searched.

 

http://www.webmd.com/hw/raising_a_family/hw65655.asp

[bluechocolate]

yep - whopping cough is highly contagious, rarely fatal, but bloody painful!! I had it as a child, the ceaseless 'whopping' scarred my throat such that I barked like a seal every time I caught a cold for years afterward. It was great for getting out of school!! Everyone thought I was gonna die or something.

 

I seem to remember Novahistex (sp?) being the cough medicine of choice back then, lots of codeine in it, I'm not sure it's even available any more.

[whichwayisup]

Yeah I know, that is what was freaking me out!

 

Thanks Outcast.

[whichwayisup]

yep - whopping cough is highly contagious, rarely fatal, but bloody painful!! I had it as a child, the ceaseless 'whopping' scarred my throat such that I barked like a seal every time I caught a cold for years afterward. It was great for getting out of school!! Everyone thought I was gonna die or something.

 

I seem to remember Novahistex (sp?) being the cough medicine of choice back then, lots of codeine in it, I'm not sure it's even available any more.

Thanks BC. Yeah, I'd love to see all the kids reactions...That's too funny!

 

I think I'll call my DR tomorrow just to see what she says. I don't want to turn this into a HUGE thing (though right now it feels like it IS a big thing!) and overreact.

[Outcast]

If you never got vaccinated, now would be the time.

[brashgal]

Don't they vaccinate for whooping cough in Canada? They do in the US routinely - DPT vaccine (whooping cough is the P - pertussis).

 

I have read that the vaccine can wear off by adulthood though.

 

Also, didn't you say your niece had been on antibiotics for a couple of days? You may be ok - take care of yourself!

[whichwayisup]

That is the thing. They had the shot! So why did she test positive? I got a shot but a LONG time ago...And yes, she's been on antibotics so hopefully the contagious part isn't as bad as I've made it out to be in my head! lol.

 

Thanks.

[brashgal]

Not being a medical professional I can only guess - maybe the vaccine doesn't give total protection? Maybe there is some mutant strain that is vaccine resistant?

 

We can invent all kinds of scary scenarios but better not to give you nightmares!

[Milo]

If you happen to get a severe cough, get some codeine cough syrup or something similar. I had a cough so bad that I broke a rib. Then, after that, coughing was all the more pleasant. The sleep deprivation was evil.

[whichwayisup]

You broke a rib coughing? Holy cow! That must have been so painful!

 

Not being a medical professional I can only guess - maybe the vaccine doesn't give total protection? Maybe there is some mutant strain that is vaccine resistant?

 

Yeah maybe there is. I don't know!

 

We can invent all kinds of scary scenarios but better not to give you nightmares!

 

I better not have any tonight! If I do I'll blame Milo! Especially if I hear things cracking in my sleep! And we ain't talking gas! hehehe...