My 4 Week Old Has Been Exposed to Pertusis/whooping Cough. I Am So Scared!

We were just talking about the pertussis outbreak in CA at work today...

My first thought was talk to your own doctor about you and your husband's immunity to see if you would benefit from a booster. Your baby needs you both to stay healthy now.

My next thought was breastfeeding but see with the reflex that may be hard. Stick with it and/or pumping! Every drop that gets down and stays down will help.

Stick a little closer to home. Remember that washing hands is one of the single best ways to stop the spread most infectious diseases. Have a just-say-no approach to visitors until your child is in the clear.

My final thought is when you get through this (you and baby WILL get through this) be a vocal advocate for vaccines. It seems hard to argue against the thought that other parents' choices NOT to vaccinate put your vulnerable newborn at risk. My thoughts are with you and your baby.

You and/or your Husband... should ALSO get booster shots, for Pertussis.
They are recommending this, for any adults & older children/teens, especially if they live with young babies/children.

Go to www.mothering.com and click on community and then scroll down to the board titled vaccines. Tell the moms there about your little one. They will tell you the best way to treat it.

Lisa

My kids are not vaccinated and were exposed to it directly also, they developed a high fever for one night, low fever for one day, and nothing else. So not all exposure leads to infection. They were breastfed, but also get exposed to everyday germs, take vitamins and probiotics, and have been adjusted by a chiropractor since day one. Our ped said my kids are super healthy, and to call back if they started coughing. There's some good information on likelihood of contracting these diseases and treatment at www.thedoctorwithin.com and on dr. Tenpenny's website.

Although my son of 7 months does not have the whooping cough, he has a really bad cough he caught from his 2 cousins. some of the things I've done to help him get through the day/night is to rub a little bit of vicks (very, very little so that it doesn't burn their skin - yours is much younger so you may want to ask your ped first) on his chest, back, behind his ears. It has seemed to help and when he wakes up with a cough attack, I reapply of hours passed since the last application. Also, a humidifier because any a/c or heat blowing in the house can irritate their throat (at least it does mine and I've notice it with him). since it's been cold, I have the heat on lightly and I just bundle him up. Hope all is well and i agree with all - don't hesitate to call your ped or go to the ER if you think teh symptoms are worsening.

This is exactly why people need to get vaccinated for pertussis and also remember to get the booster. Your poor child doesn't have much of a line of defense against it :(

In the meantime, like others have said, keep a close eye on your child. Do not hesitate to call your child's pediatrician and/or take him to the ER if you're concerned (although, at the ER be very careful - put a mask on him if possible and cover him because the ER can be a hotbed of germs). Pertussis can be very serious for the little ones, so just make sure you watch it closely.

I'm so sorry you're going through this (and all the other trials and tribulations). I know that things will seem really difficult - I lived through two colicky babies and a major PPD - but eventually things will settle down and life will be much more calm. Enlist the help of your partner or friends/family and be sure to take care of yourself, too, while navigating being a new mom.

Best wishes!

Shame on that family member. It is one thing if they didn't know but if they did, exposing another child (especially one so young and therefore not protected) is just plain careless. I hope all goes well for you.

I would trust your doctor. The Z-Pak is pretty good so hopefully it is enough to prevent it.

For those touting the pertussis vaccine... 80% of those who contract pertussis have been vaccinated for it.
Pertussis/whooping cough is treatable - and can be treated homeopathically, which is very safe.
If your baby was exposed more than 3 or 4 days ago and has not begun to show any signs, he is likely fine - try not to worry about it.
If you are breastfeeding your baby, he is even more protected. Good job!

Bless your heart. I hope it all turns out OK for your family. Pertusis is a growing problem, and something that we should all make our priority to prevent so that families with babies do not have to go through your experience. Our choices do effect others in so many profound ways that should give us more pause.

Let us all know how your little one does.

M.

It is understandable that you would and should be scared. Go to the hospital if you become the least bit concerned that he he may not be getting enough oxygen. Trust your ped and the antibiotics - give the antibiotics to your baby on a strict schedule. Stay vigilant. Don't let your son out of your site. You and your husband should take turns staying up to make sure his breathing is okay.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/w...#

No advise..... but wanted you to know I am thinking about your baby and hoping he does not get Whooping Cough. Very scary!

I have a two month old baby, so I feel your worry and stress almost as if it were my own. It's good that you've been proactive with the pediatrician's help. I googled it and found that the incubation is generally 7-10 days, but can be 4-21 days. If you're not seeing symptoms in a week or so, it's probably fine to start relaxing. So sorry your family member was so careless.