Re: My 6 month old got whooping cough...questions

[Guest guest]

We experienced whooping cough this past winter. In NJ they give you the

choice of going on antibiotics or staying home for 3 weeks (a quarantine).

Perhaps you can each be tested (also not an attractive option) although when

my daughter was tested they drew blood with a " butterfly syringe " which was

virtually pain free. I believe people who legitimately have the disease can

be " sloughing off " the virus for a few weeks. I know of a health care

practitioner who has stated that if you are fully immunized, you should not

need the antibiotics.

By the way, my 2 younger children (each of whom had pneumonia along with

whooping cough did take the antibiotic - a first for each of them)

[Guest guest]

Good grief, when is government going to stop telling us how to take care of

our bodies?

If you are worried about being accused of " medical neglect " , then how about

saying okay to the antibiotics and if necessary get the prescription filled,

BUT please then TRASH them. Antibiotics are VERY damaging anytime, but

especially when they are totally unnecessary.

Kathleen

[Guest guest]

I would contact NVIC on this. Their number is 703-938-3783. Sandy from

Alaska

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WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE

MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

My 6 month old got whooping cough...questions

My unvaccinated 6 month old got whooping cough. I did not take

her to the doctor, but the child I watch had it too, and was

cultured possitive and the kids had the exact symptoms.

Everything is fine with my little one....it was just a little worse than

a bad cold. BUT...the health department found out and is now

involved. They want me, my husband, my 3 kids , grandparents,

and everyone that was in any contact with us in the past month to

take antibiotics. I think that this is stupid, as nobody has any

sign of it and my 6 month old who had it has been done with it

and not coughing for over 2 weeks now. My questions are as

follows....how long is whooping cough contagious? If we say

absolutly no to taking the antibiotics, can we get in trouble?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/1/01 6:22:46 PM GTB Daylight Time, jbonovich@...

writes:

<< ons are as

follows....how long is whooping cough contagious? If we say

absolutly no to taking the antibiotics, can we get in trouble?

>>

Antibios should only be given for secondary infections,but here in the US

they give it to stop the spread. I would not take them,or just accept the

pills and flush.

Wishing you all good health!

Sara

<<<<

Treatment

Hospitalization is recommended for seriously ill infants because expert

nursing care is important. Bed rest is unnecessary for older children with

mild disease.

<<<<NAME: Bordetella pertussis

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Whooping cough, B. parapertussis

CHARACTERISTICS: Gram-negative coccobacilli, aerobic, encapsulated,

non-motile, produces a toxin; B. pertussis has fastidious growth requirements

while B. parapertussis grows on simple culture media

SECTION II - HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: An acute respiratory disease with three stages: a catarrhal

stage with an irritating cough, lasts 1 to 2 weeks; a paroxysmal stage

characterized by violent coughs followed by a high pitched inspiratory whoop,

lasts 2 to 6 weeks; a convalescent stage where the cough gradually decreases

in frequency and severity, lasts several weeks; 75% of deaths are among

infants; parapertussis is similar but milder, occurs in school-age children

and is seen less frequently

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Common in children worldwide; decline in incidence and

mortality following immunization and where good nutrition and medical care

are available; in unimmunized populations with malnutrition and multiple

infections, pertussis is among the most lethal infant diseases

HOST RANGE: Humans

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Unknown

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Primarily by direct contact with discharges from

respiratory mucous membranes of infected persons by the airborne route,

probably by droplets; frequently brought home by an older sibling

INCUBATION PERIOD: Commonly 6 to 20 days; average 7 to 10 days

COMMUNICABILITY: Highly communicable in the early catarrhal stage; becomes

negligible in about 3 weeks despite persisting spasmodic cough with whoop;

when treated with antibiotics, the period of infectiousness extends only 5-7

days after onset of therapy

SECTION III - DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Infected persons; asymptomatic carriers (both children and adults)

ZOONOSIS: None

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV - VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to erythromycin or TMP-SMX (susceptible to

ciprofloxacin in vitro)

DRUG RESISTANCE: Two erythromycin-resistant isolates of B. pertussis have

been reported in Utah and Arizona

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants - 1%

sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, iodines, phenolics, glutaraldehyde,

formaldehyde

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Inactivated by moist heat (121°C for at least 15 min)

and dry heat (160-170°C for at least 1 hour)

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives 1-2 hours on surfaces; 3-4 hours in human

sputum samples; air - 19 to 20 hours; plastic - 3-5 days; paper - 1 day; in

diluted saliva - up to 7 days; susceptible to cold temperatures and

dessication

SECTION V - MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirmation by recovery of organism from

nasopharyngeal swabs during catarrhal stage

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy - 14 day course of erythromycin or

TMP-SMX; adequate oxygenation, hydration and electrolyte balance

IMMUNIZATION: Whole cell adsorbed vaccine available; recommended for children

at 2 months of age, boosted at 2 and 5 years; acellular engineered fraction

vaccines licensed for booster vaccination

PROPHYLAXIS: Close contacts less than 7 years who have not received required

DTP doses should be given a DTP dose; 18-day erythromycin or TMP-SMX course

for close contacts less than 1 year old, regardless of immunization status,

and for unimmunized contacts less than 7 years

SECTION VI - LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Rare source of infections; one case in a

worker who had aerated liquid cultures for vaccine preparation; possible

infection in 8 people who worked in building where research on vaccine was

being done (organism was recovered); similar incident reported in a large

university research facility which resulted in 2 possible infections

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Nasopharyngeal swabs and secretions

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Direct contact of mucous membranes and inhalation of

infectious aerosols and droplets

SPECIAL HAZARDS: No special hazards

SECTION VII - RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment

and facilities for work with known or potentially infectious specimens and

cultures; work likely to generate aerosols should be carried out in a

biosafety cabinet

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with

infectious materials is unavoidable; gloves and gown (tie in back, tight

wrists) should be worn while conducting procedures in biosafety cabinet

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Hands should be washed thoroughly after work is finished

to avoid possible spreading of the organisms

SECTION VIII - HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover

spill with paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at

perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30

min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical

disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are labelled appropriately

SECTION IX - MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: November 1999

Prepared by: Office of Biosafety, LCDC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this

Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable,

we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or

for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly

discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up

to date.

>>>>>>>

Seriously ill infants should be kept in a darkened, quiet room and disturbed

as little as possible, since any disturbance can precipitate serious

paroxysmal spells with anoxia.

Antibiotics should be used only for bacterial complications such as

bronchopneumonia and otitis media.

http://www.drugbase.co.za/data/med_info/wcough.htm

>>>>>>>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/2/01 12:53:19 AM GTB Daylight Time, nnu29@... writes:

<<

Treatment

Hospitalization is recommended for seriously ill infants because expert

nursing care is important. Bed rest is unnecessary for older children with

mild disease. >>

Oops forgot to give the link..... <A

HREF= " http://www.drugbase.co.za/data/med_info/wcough.htm " >Click here:

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)</A>

http://www.drugbase.co.za/data/med_info/wcough.htm

It is from South Africa and you'd think there they would also push

antibios,but they don't.

[Guest guest]

Fill the prescriptions but do not take them. Somebody suggested that you

flush the amount that you are suppossed to take every day. That way if they

come, it looks like you have been taking them daily as prescribed.

Meanwhile, make sure the immune system is strong. Vitamin C, garlic, maybe

echinacea.

>From: jbonovich@...

>Reply-Vaccinations

>Vaccinations

>Subject: My 6 month old got whooping cough...questions

>Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 15:18:51 -0000

>

>My unvaccinated 6 month old got whooping cough. I did not take

>her to the doctor, but the child I watch had it too, and was

>cultured possitive and the kids had the exact symptoms.

>Everything is fine with my little one....it was just a little worse than

>a bad cold. BUT...the health department found out and is now

>involved. They want me, my husband, my 3 kids , grandparents,

>and everyone that was in any contact with us in the past month to

>take antibiotics. I think that this is stupid, as nobody has any

>sign of it and my 6 month old who had it has been done with it

>and not coughing for over 2 weeks now. My questions are as

>follows....how long is whooping cough contagious? If we say

>absolutly no to taking the antibiotics, can we get in trouble?

>

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