Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 Since he had such a bad reaction to the DTAP vaccine at 18 months we have not given him another one. I wonder if you are referring to titers possibly from the IVIG? My understanding is the antx do not get him well but only shorten the contagious period from 3 + weeks to about a week. The toxin is still released in the lungs if he has it and causes the problems. I would really appreciate your prayers. He has a fever tonight and is starting to cough in his sleep so we will just have to walk through it as we can. BARBIE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 Since he had such a bad reaction to the DTAP vaccine at 18 months we have not given him another one. I wonder if you are referring to titers possibly from the IVIG? My understanding is the antx do not get him well but only shorten the contagious period from 3 + weeks to about a week. The toxin is still released in the lungs if he has it and causes the problems. I would really appreciate your prayers. He has a fever tonight and is starting to cough in his sleep so we will just have to walk through it as we can. BARBIE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 Barbie, A few thoughts for you.... First, chances are that Lucas has good protection against pertussis because of his IVIG -- essentially all the donors got their immunizations, and they're passively conferring resistance to Lucas through the IVIG. But, if you are worried, I would ask the doctors for a prophylactic course of erithromycin. The reason for this is that pertussis is asymptomatic in the early stages of infection, and the true coughing (the " whooping " ) only starts when the toxin produced by the bug causes the respiratory cells to start sloughing off into the airway. Unfortunately, at that point, the infection will not respond to *any* antibiotics, because the true symptoms are toxin-mediated, rather than infection mediated, if that makes sense. By the time the toxin's been produced, there's nothing you can do. So, if you are concerned, ask the doc how long the incubation period it, and if you can do some prophylaxis until the waiting period has passed. Hope that helps, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 Barbie, A few thoughts for you.... First, chances are that Lucas has good protection against pertussis because of his IVIG -- essentially all the donors got their immunizations, and they're passively conferring resistance to Lucas through the IVIG. But, if you are worried, I would ask the doctors for a prophylactic course of erithromycin. The reason for this is that pertussis is asymptomatic in the early stages of infection, and the true coughing (the " whooping " ) only starts when the toxin produced by the bug causes the respiratory cells to start sloughing off into the airway. Unfortunately, at that point, the infection will not respond to *any* antibiotics, because the true symptoms are toxin-mediated, rather than infection mediated, if that makes sense. By the time the toxin's been produced, there's nothing you can do. So, if you are concerned, ask the doc how long the incubation period it, and if you can do some prophylaxis until the waiting period has passed. Hope that helps, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 Barbie, A few thoughts for you.... First, chances are that Lucas has good protection against pertussis because of his IVIG -- essentially all the donors got their immunizations, and they're passively conferring resistance to Lucas through the IVIG. But, if you are worried, I would ask the doctors for a prophylactic course of erithromycin. The reason for this is that pertussis is asymptomatic in the early stages of infection, and the true coughing (the " whooping " ) only starts when the toxin produced by the bug causes the respiratory cells to start sloughing off into the airway. Unfortunately, at that point, the infection will not respond to *any* antibiotics, because the true symptoms are toxin-mediated, rather than infection mediated, if that makes sense. By the time the toxin's been produced, there's nothing you can do. So, if you are concerned, ask the doc how long the incubation period it, and if you can do some prophylaxis until the waiting period has passed. Hope that helps, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 Doesn't matter where the titers are from , vaccinations or IVIG, coverage is coverage and it might help you rest easier knowing if there is any there. No matter how he got it (antibodies). Ursula Holleman Macey's mom (6 yr. old with CVID, asthma, sinus disease, GERD, kidney reflux, Sensory Integration Disorder, Diabetes Insipidus) http://home.att.net/~maceyh/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 Doesn't matter where the titers are from , vaccinations or IVIG, coverage is coverage and it might help you rest easier knowing if there is any there. No matter how he got it (antibodies). Ursula Holleman Macey's mom (6 yr. old with CVID, asthma, sinus disease, GERD, kidney reflux, Sensory Integration Disorder, Diabetes Insipidus) http://home.att.net/~maceyh/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 MOTHER1544@... wrote: > My understanding is the antx do not get him well but only > shorten the contagious period from 3 + weeks to about a week. The toxin is > still released in the lungs if he has it and causes the problems. In general, you're correct..... the only benefit to antibiotics at the point when the bacteria has already taken hold is the fact that it might reduce the chance of a secondary bacterial infection. We were told that there isn't any research to show that works in a healthy population (infection rates are equal in abx or non-abx groups), but they specifically mentioned that there may be a role for them in immune deficiency children. Hope that helps! kimberly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 MOTHER1544@... wrote: > My understanding is the antx do not get him well but only > shorten the contagious period from 3 + weeks to about a week. The toxin is > still released in the lungs if he has it and causes the problems. In general, you're correct..... the only benefit to antibiotics at the point when the bacteria has already taken hold is the fact that it might reduce the chance of a secondary bacterial infection. We were told that there isn't any research to show that works in a healthy population (infection rates are equal in abx or non-abx groups), but they specifically mentioned that there may be a role for them in immune deficiency children. Hope that helps! kimberly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2001 Report Share Posted June 15, 2001 Thanks I will be happy to take any hope at this time. We were up all night with fever and intermittent mild cough. His peak flows are still good but have dropped by about 40 points. The big drops start tomorrow if his course with a cold goes as usual. The first week of pertussis is pretty mild. Its 1+ weeks that cause the paroxyml cough. I just want to be as proactive as possible . Sadly we had a family over on Sunday who has Ovarian Cancer she has had chemo and also underwent a laporotomy on Tuesday. I just pray she does not get it.She also has a 5 month old baby. Life has crazy twists. Thanks again, BARBIE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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