Whooping cough, the name given to the illness Pertussis, is caused by the bacteria Bordetella. Pertussis is called whooping cough because of the sound made when coughing.
Early symptoms can last for 1 to 2 weeks and usually include:
-Runny nose
-Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)
-Mild, occasional cough
-Apnea –a pause in breathing (in babies)
After 1 to 2 weeks as the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include:
-Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound
-Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits
-Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits
Although you are often exhausted after a coughing fit, you usually appear fairly well in-between. Coughing fits generally become more common and bad as the illness continues, and can occur more often at night. The coughing fits can go on for up to 10 weeks or more. In China, pertussis is known as the “100-day cough.”
According to the CDC, between 2012 and 2019 there were more cases of pertussis in fully vaccinated children compared to non-vaccinated children. Read the provisional reports here: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
"This research suggests that although individuals immunized with an acellular pertussis vaccine may be protected from disease, they may still become infected with the bacteria without always getting sick and are able to spread [the] infection to others, including young infants who are susceptible to pertussis disease."
What to do if you or your child becomes infected with pertussis
If you go to the ER or a doctor they may give you antibiotics, which won't help cure or treat the illness itself but may help prevent secondary infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia. The most important thing to do when infected with pertussis, like with any illness, is to stay hydrated!
Many holistic care approaches can be used to help alleviate symptoms including homeopathic and naturopathic treatments, chiropractic care, diet, and vitamin therapy.
Dr. Humphries on Vaccines:
Once You Have Had Pertussis Can You Get It Again?
According to the National Vaccine Information Center: "Many people gain permanent immunity after experiencing B. pertussis whooping cough disease. However, it is possible to have more than one bout with whooping cough in life, although subsequent cases are generally milder or may even be experienced without any symptoms.
All vaccines only give temporary protection/immunity from disease, which is why booster doses are often recommended. For many individuals, the pertussis vaccine (DPT, DTaP, TDaP) does not give long-lasting protection against the disease and some individuals will never develop temporary immunity despite receiving all recommended boosters. Over time, the temporary immunity individuals may acquire through vaccination wanes, which often results in outbreaks of B pertussis in fully vaccinated children, teenagers, and adults. Further, it is possible for fully vaccinated individuals to be asymptomatic (infected, but having no symptoms) and spread B pertussis to others."
Comments