FYI: Whooping Cough - Pertussis
So you make sure you kids get their shots...and see it mentioned on the local news. No big deal - right? Your kids are safe and you have nothing to worry about.
Wrong.
First of all, most kids aren't covered until they have at least three injections...leaving the 6 month and under crowd particularly at risk. If you don't believe me, ask the Amish clan north of Portage that lost several children this winter.
:(
Even if they HAVE their shots, kids can still get it - and have been. Since the beginning of the year, Dane County has had about 200 reported cases. That makes it a local epidemic as they usually only see 1-2 cases a month!
Adults can get it too -- most of us haven't had booster shots for this and you are particularly at risk if you have any breathing condition or are a smoker. That is why they now are including it in our tetanus shots.
So here is fun news - Sun Prairie seems to be a "hot spot" right now, along with Monona and Cottage Grove.
Yes, you guessed it.
Miss Sarah plays with a girl who's younger sister has it.
(sigh)
Testing all around for the family...yippee! It's simple - the doctor takes a nose or throat swab or suction sample. The sample is then checked for evidence of the presence of whooping cough bacteria. When it is early, you can take antibiotics. When it progresses, they don't help you much.
This is important as it looks a LOT like the common cold, until you think you are almost over it - THEN the huge, fighting-for-air coughing fits come in and you simply have to ride it out.
PLEASE get your children vaccinated. This is SO dangerous!!!!
OK -- off my soap box.
:)
I am off to read up on all the gory details just in case Miss Sarah gets bad news. I remember her being just about a year old and having the NoroVirus - it's a nasty, helpless feeling seeing your child that sick and not really being able to do that much about it.
You can learn more to buy going HERE.
Keep your fingers crossed...we should know tomorrow!
Wrong.
First of all, most kids aren't covered until they have at least three injections...leaving the 6 month and under crowd particularly at risk. If you don't believe me, ask the Amish clan north of Portage that lost several children this winter.
:(
Even if they HAVE their shots, kids can still get it - and have been. Since the beginning of the year, Dane County has had about 200 reported cases. That makes it a local epidemic as they usually only see 1-2 cases a month!
Adults can get it too -- most of us haven't had booster shots for this and you are particularly at risk if you have any breathing condition or are a smoker. That is why they now are including it in our tetanus shots.
So here is fun news - Sun Prairie seems to be a "hot spot" right now, along with Monona and Cottage Grove.
Yes, you guessed it.
Miss Sarah plays with a girl who's younger sister has it.
(sigh)
Testing all around for the family...yippee! It's simple - the doctor takes a nose or throat swab or suction sample. The sample is then checked for evidence of the presence of whooping cough bacteria. When it is early, you can take antibiotics. When it progresses, they don't help you much.
This is important as it looks a LOT like the common cold, until you think you are almost over it - THEN the huge, fighting-for-air coughing fits come in and you simply have to ride it out.
PLEASE get your children vaccinated. This is SO dangerous!!!!
OK -- off my soap box.
:)
I am off to read up on all the gory details just in case Miss Sarah gets bad news. I remember her being just about a year old and having the NoroVirus - it's a nasty, helpless feeling seeing your child that sick and not really being able to do that much about it.
You can learn more to buy going HERE.
Keep your fingers crossed...we should know tomorrow!
Its important not only for kids, moms and dads but grandparents who spend time with kids.
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