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Can Whooping Cough Be Acquired Despite Treatment In Childhood?
Question: Hi there. I'm XXXXXXX 63 yrs. I had all the usual childhood vaccines however I contracted whooping cough when I was 16 while visiting family in then Yugoslavia. I had caught it from a family friend XXXXXXX a boy my age who with his family traveled with us all over Eastern Europe for the summer. I was never treated medicaly and after four or so months it ran it's course. I had horrendous coughing fits then. Walking up a few stairs produced a 2 minute unstoppable frenzy. Back to the Present: I think I have whooping cough again. Thank god I haven't seen my grandsons ages 3 yrs and 20 mos. in several weeks though they've both been taking the usual schedules of childhood immunizations. Now my question is, if it's early enough to treat with antibiotics what's the time frame for me to be contagious. I'd say I presented with swollen glands a bad sore throat and a lousy constant tickle in my throat type cough, the sore throat left after three days. Come to think of it the annoying cough started approx. 2 1/2 - 3 weeks ago. But two days ago a lightbulb flashed when after a coughing fit I had that sharp intake of breath, and to myself said yikes, this almost feels like whooping cough. By the way, I seldom manifest a cough with a cold, flu, even when I got bronchitis. If indeed my throat culture tests positive, (I will go to the clinic tomorrow) can I not take the antibiotics? When would my grandkids be at risk? How early are "early stages" for treatment to be helpful? If I do have the virus it is no where near as severe as when I was a kid thank god. Can you even get it twice? How long should I wait before I get the booster vaccine? Thanks for your attention. I'm also a slow typer. Laptop's in the shop, on an IPad. Thanks again. Sincerely XXXXXXX XXXX
Brief Answer:
Yes whooping cough can be acquired twice despite treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
I understand your concern and situation.
Firstly it is your self diagnosis of whooping cough. But as physician we need to examine you to be sure supported by tests. I advise you to visit a health care provider immediately. You need to get throat and sputum gram staining and culture sensitivity for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. You might require routine haemogram and X Ray. Post that only your diagnosis can be confirmed. If it is pertussis you need to take antibiotics like erythromycin for 14-21 days. Take plenty of rest, eat protein rich healthy and balanced diet and drink plenty of water. You can also take cough suppressants twice or thrice daily. Whooping cough is highly infectious, so if you or your grandchild have it, it is important to stay away from others until the infection has completely cleared. Early stages are if whooping cough is diagnosed during the first three weeks (21 days) of the infection. The whooping cough is more severe in children than adult. Because immunity from the pertussis vaccine decreases over time but does not necessarily disappear, adults who do become infected may have retained a partial degree of immunity against the infection that results in a milder illness. People can get infection twice it is not impossible. You do not need to wait you can take vaccation dTaP at the start of your treatment.
Take care
Hope I answered your query.
If no clarification then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. A review will be appreciated.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
Yes whooping cough can be acquired twice despite treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query at HCM.
I understand your concern and situation.
Firstly it is your self diagnosis of whooping cough. But as physician we need to examine you to be sure supported by tests. I advise you to visit a health care provider immediately. You need to get throat and sputum gram staining and culture sensitivity for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. You might require routine haemogram and X Ray. Post that only your diagnosis can be confirmed. If it is pertussis you need to take antibiotics like erythromycin for 14-21 days. Take plenty of rest, eat protein rich healthy and balanced diet and drink plenty of water. You can also take cough suppressants twice or thrice daily. Whooping cough is highly infectious, so if you or your grandchild have it, it is important to stay away from others until the infection has completely cleared. Early stages are if whooping cough is diagnosed during the first three weeks (21 days) of the infection. The whooping cough is more severe in children than adult. Because immunity from the pertussis vaccine decreases over time but does not necessarily disappear, adults who do become infected may have retained a partial degree of immunity against the infection that results in a milder illness. People can get infection twice it is not impossible. You do not need to wait you can take vaccation dTaP at the start of your treatment.
Take care
Hope I answered your query.
If no clarification then you can close the discussion and rate the answer. A review will be appreciated.
Dr. Sheetal Verma
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
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