whooping cough outbreak

[civilservant]

There is currently a major outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis). A very good reason to make sure that babies especially have had their jabs. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19013016

"In the UK, the whooping cough vaccine is given to babies after two, three and four months. A booster dose is given just before primary school.

Babies are not fully protected until the third jab. It is in the following years that protection is at its peak then it gradually fades. It means you can get whooping cough as an adult even if you had the infection or the jabs as a child.

Prof Adam Finn, from University of Bristol, said: "The current vaccination programme has reduced whooping cough in children, but also pushed it back into older age groups. Immunity due to vaccine does not last as long as immunity due to infection so as the number of people who have had whooping cough in the past falls, population immunity falls and rates go up."

In other words, it's always going to be in the community, so make sure babies are protected by ensuring they have their DTP vaccines and boosters.

[Dame Dulwich]

Interesting post 'Civilservant'. Wonder what Department you work for??? lol!

[Dame Dulwich]

p.s - Its DTaP ;-)

[bodsier]

It's actually been around for many years, its just a case of whether or not it is recognised by the medical profession. It has been assumed it was wiped out, but according to Dr. Jenkinson, this is not so, and he has been researching and treating it for many years.

http://www.whoopingcough.net/keyworth%20study.htm

Not wanting to add to the hysteria, but I fear I may have.

My son had it last year. Had a relentless cough for months and difficulty breathing during coughing fits. There is a recordng on the site to help people to identify the cough.

[mima08]

Actually I was just forwarded an article in the German new magazin Der Spiegel on the subject of an increase in the number of cases in both children & adults in the UK but also in Germany. So maybe more awareness is needed....

[bodsier]

Well according to Dr Jenkinson, he has treated more cases of whooping cough in his small village than the whole of the UK. Suggesting that if all GP's had recognised and treated it over the past 30 years, there might not be evidence of a dramatic 'increase in the number of cases' but a steady number which fluctuates every 4-5 years when the vaccination expires.

[civilservant]

Whooping cough has certainly not been wiped out, not in this country or anywhere - if it had been, there wouldn't be any need to vaccinate against it. My original post was triggered by the fact that I'm actually recovering from a bout of whooping cough myself. I heard that it's sometimes referred as the 100 days cough and sure enough I'm still coughing and hacking and phlegmy (yuk!) weeks later.

Luckily for me, it's not a killer cough as I'm too old... But a very good reason to ensure that the little ones have had their protective jabs. So glad that my daughter hasn't caught it off me.

PS DDul, thanks for the correction! it is indeed DTaP in this country