In light of all of the immunization posts lately, I though I would post what I learned (FOR A FACT) both on our local Bay Area news and via local internet. Just another reason why we SHOULD immunize our children.
The k-12 East Bay Waldorf School in Martinez, CA has been closed due to a widespread outbreak of whooping cough. In this school less than 50% of the students are immunized (in comparison with the estimated 99% immunization rate in public schools) and 16 out of its total 300 student population have been infected, prompting the closure of the school by the Contra Costa County School District (the 16 are counted students that have been infected - this is not including siblings and family members that have also contracted the disease from their sick school children). Mostly kindergartners have been effected at this time, which is particularly dangerous as, the younger the child, the more dangerous the disease is to them.
Here is a small bit of info lifted from a whooping cough website:
Whooping cough in a recognizable form evolves over a period of 2 weeks. It usually starts as a sore throat with a mild feeling of tiredness and being unwell, that within 2 or 3 days turns into a (usually) dry, intermittent "ordinary" cough. This persists, but may wax and wane over the next 7 to 10 days by which time the cough may become a little productive of small amounts of sticky clear phlegm, and occasional intense bouts of choking coughing start to occur.
Fever is usually limited to the first week and is only mild. There may be a runny nose like a cold in the early stages. After the first 2 weeks, the characteristics described below are predominant.
Major Symptoms (usually from 2 weeks onwards). Attacks of a choking cough that lasts from 1 to 2 minutes, often with vomiting, severe facial congestions and a feeling or appearance of suffocation. Between these attacks of coughing the sufferer appears and usually feels perfectly well.These choking attacks of coughing happen as little as twice a day or as many as fifty. Between attacks ('paroxysms' is the technical name) the sufferer may not cough at all.'Whooping' is a noise that comes from the voice box after a paroxysm when the sufferer is suddenly able to take a breath in again.
Only about 50% of whooping cough sufferers 'whoop' but this is where the name comes from. Sometimes the patient stops breathing after a severe bout of coughing, long enough to go blue. Occasionally the patient faints as well. Recovery is usually rapid however, and back to normal within a couple of minutes
Whooping cough lasts at least 3 weeks and can frequently go on for 3 months or even longer. I am told that in China it is called the 100 day cough.
Late symptoms. Whooping cough resolves by a slow reduction in the number of choking attacks. From the time the attacks start to reduce in number, to the time they finish, it may be roughly from 2 weeks to 2 months or more. The average case of whooping cough lasts about 7 weeks. But for people with whooping cough visiting this site, it is likely to last longer, because only more severe cases are likely to get hereImportant points
The crucial point for clinical diagnosis is attacks of severe choking cough separated by long intervals of NO COUGHING AT ALL. There is immense variation in severity and duration of the illness.MOST CASES GO UNDIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE PHYSICIAN NEVER HEARS THE PATIENT COUGH AND CANNOT BELIEVE IT IS AS SEVERE AS HE/SHE IS BEING TOLD. AND LISTENING WITH A STETHOSCOPE INDICATES NORMAL LUNGS IN WHOOPING COUGH
Just thought Id put up a little post defending immunizations in children - mothers with un-immunized children, watch out for the whooping cough! All it takes is a trip to the ped for a diagnosis.
I'd be very curious to know, of the 16 kids that were diagnosed, how many of them WERE immunized. That would be interesting, because I'm banking that most of them WERE. Hmmmm....
J
Hi K.! Thank you for your information - I hope the info reaches many families. Good luck with #2 in the future - things do get so much easier as time goes on (and I didn't think it would happen, but giving up the binky is definitely possible!). Happy Mother's Day!
- N. :)
Thank you for your post Kristin, I had not otherwise heard about this incident.
You urge parents of un-immunized children to watch for symptoms however all parents should. Most immunizations are most effective because of what is referred to as "heard immunity". Only when sufficient of the population is immunized is the protection truly effective.
When I was working in an ER in Australia (many years ago now) the local population was having an outbreak of diptheria, mostly via schools, and immunized or not were affected. The increase in unimmunized children in the school system had tipped the balance. Immunization will provide a decreased risk of infection and may help decrease the severity of the illness if it is transmitted, however only when sufficient of the population are immunized will a disease be kept at bay.
I really am not trying to lecture or tell anyone they need to immunize. All health care decisions should be individual after considering risks and benefits. Mostly I want parents to be aware that just because you and your child are immunized does not mean you are fully protected. If there is an outbreak you need to take precautions and watch for symptoms.
K.
Perfect! You gave information without making it sound like an attack. I have to admit, when I read the original post my first instinct was to let the mom hear my opinion on why it is important to immunize (and take the minor risk vs. the major one re: statistics). Your demonstration was much more productive. Good job! :)
Mamas out there --
PLEASE listen to this message. We need to immunize our children. Diseases that were nearly eradicated are now returning. This is real, this can be life-threatening.
The fear of autism is not a good enough reason to stop immunizing our children. First off, the research simply does not support the connection.
Secondly, if you worked with autistic people and their families (as does K. and myself), you would know that there is a STRONG genetic component. You don't just 'get it'.
Thirdly, profound autism -- the 'Rain Main' type -- is still quite rare. The types of autism that are predominantly on the rise are autistic spectrum disorders. These kids are in our public schools, working at our companies, and yes, leading major corporations.
Fourth, these forms of autism have always been around. Yes, they appear to be on the rise, but part of the 'increase' is due to better diagnosis -- we are simply documenting more people with the disorder. The increase in prevelance is smaller than it appears.
Fifth, you can die from whooping cough, TB, complications from measles. You CANNOT DIE FROM AUTISM.
Think carefully.
Thanks,
Good job K.! My oldest son had whooping cough some 25 years ago, before they immunized for it. He was sick for weeks and but for a severe case of "white coat syndrome", would have been hospitalized. He became very hysterical when the doctor ordered hospitalization, the decision was made for us to care for him at home. My Husband and I slept and worked in shifts so we could watch him continuously to make sure he didn't stop breathing altogether. He passed out numerous times; took on the "blue" cast of someone not getting enough oxygen and could have died without constant care. We had to "tent" his bed and run 4 humidifiers and 2 vaporizers in his room to keep him comfortable (which required a complete sanding and repainting of his room at the end of care because the moisture ruins everything including furniture). We were in contact with his doctor daily for weeks. This is not an illness to mess with and over the years has become more prevalent, I expect due to the number of people moving here from all over the world where diseases like this are more prevalent and immunization is uncommon. While I don't necessarily think we should immunize against everything, it's a wise idea to protect our children against the most potentially harmful illnesses. But this is just my opinion.
Thank you taking the time to inform. As a child I had Whooping Cough, & I made sure my children (3) were immunized. I work for a school district & hope many will read & choose to protect their children.
There are Mommy and Me groups around. Try churches, you don't have to be a member, and also local hospitals. Some meet in parks once per week, others at the facilities.
Have fun!
