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Pertussis (whooping cough)
I think I might have whooping cough, seeing as there's been more than 30 cases of it in my county. As far as symptoms, I have a runny nose, I cough like crazy, and in the beginning I had a really sore throat (but it's gone.) But the thing is, I was vaccinated against it. o_0 Is there a chance I have it? The coughing only gets worse everyday. x_x
14/f if it helps x)
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Want to answer more questions in the Health & Fitness category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Illnesses?
You could indeed have it. See your
doctor just in case!
From [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
For more info go to site.
Whooping Cough Overview:
* Whooping cough, medically known as pertussis, is a serious and highly contagious infection.
* It is named after the "whoop" sound children and adults make when they try to breathe in during or after a severe coughing spell. These coughing spells may make it hard to breathe, eat, or sleep.
* Whooping cough can lead to cracked ribs, pneumonia, or hospitalization.
* While considered a childhood infection, we now know that adolescents and adults are at risk for infection. This is because protection from childhood whooping cough vaccination wears off 5 to 10 years after the last childhood vaccination.
* It is estimated that up to one million cases of whooping cough may actually occur every year in the United States, across all age groups. Only a minority are officially reported because it is a difficult infection to diagnose. For instance, just over 25,000 cases were reported in 2005.
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Well, you need to go to your doctor. See, we can only take stabs in the dark at guessing what you have.
I will tell you this- Having children, I have researched a lot about vaccines.
I can tell you that just because your vaccinated against something, doesn't mean you won't get it.
Think of it kind of like birth control. Birth control is not guaranteed to be 100% effective, correct?
Neither are vaccines. Chances are, the person vaccinated will be protected. However, there is a chance that the vaccine didn't properly "take."
It happens sometimes.
Safest bet? Visit your doctor to be certain. Whooping Cough is highly contagious. It can take up to 10 weeks to recover. If have it and go around small children, especially those too young to be vaccinated, the risk of transmitting it to them is very dangerous. Whooping cough can cause an infant to stop breathing, and even lead to death.
I just want to stress how VERY important it is that you get checked out. It is a highly contagious disease you don't want to spread.
ygs-30/f
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Chances are that if you were vaccinated, you probably don't have it. But, I don't know how many different types of whooping cough there are, so you may have a different version, though, like I said, the chances are slim.
If you're worried, please go see your doctor soon before the symptoms get worse.
=]
--Jack
(16/m)
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