Adult whooping cough - second time!

[Tucker43]

Hello. Just wondering if anyone has any experience of the unfortunate luck of having caught whooping cough twice.Currently awaiting blood test results to confirm this, however I had it back in 2015 (confirmed with a blood test then also) and I was extremely ill for nine months.

My symptoms are less severe this time but there doesn't seem to be much info/advice on recovery time etc.

I was vaccinated as a child and I'm now 53. I'm also curious to know if a booster (once I'm well again) would benefit me.

I normally have quite well controlled asthma with a couple of exacerbations/chest infections a year thrown in!

Thank you 😊

[sassy59]

That sounds awful Tucker and I hope you make a good recovery. I’ve not heard of that before but maybe someone else has.

Wishing you well. X

[Tucker43 in reply to sassy59]

Thank you

[Turnipgirl]

I had whooping cough many years ago when I was 9 and was off school for many weeks and the doctor came to us for a home visit and gave us the children's liquid amoxicillin which got rid of it!

[Tucker43 in reply to Turnipgirl]

Antibiotics in the infectious period (up to the first 21 days) can help reduce your symptoms and they stop you being infectious to others as far as I know.

[Alberta56]

Best wishes. I hope you can shake it off sooner this time.

[Tucker43 in reply to Alberta56]

Thank you, me too!

[Treetop33]

As others have said, and apparently high doses of Vit C can help clear the bacteria-produced toxins too (it doesn't get rid of it but helps the coughing). Always read up about it before doing anything obv. and/or talk to a doc.

[Tucker43 in reply to Treetop33]

Thank you

[Izb1]

Sorry to hear this Tucker43, perhaps give the helpline a call 0300 222 5800 x

[Tucker43 in reply to Izb1]

Thank you

[Lutontown]

I remember having whooping cough when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I remember going up Blows Downs (part of the Chilterns) as elevation was supposed to get rid of it if the cough was persisting. Don't know if that worked, but I do now wonder if that disease can do irreparable damage to your lungs. And measles, what does that do to your giblets! My sister-in-law, who is 80, has just contracted measles for the second time, having had it when she was 9. Wasn't very poorly with it, just spotty.

[Turnipgirl in reply to Lutontown]

Back in 2022 I had the full course of the mmr jabs when I started at a pharmacy and I was 45 at the time!

When I was growing up I had the rubella vaccine at high school and only girls received it in those days and a measles only one many years ago.

[Lutontown in reply to Turnipgirl]

I had a brother who died of diphtheria 8 years before I was born. His birthday was Christmas eve, and he died on Boxing day, 1933. My parents always made sure I had a great Christmas, even though it was during and just post war. They must have been sad, but I never knew. The vaccine guarding against that was just starting to be available at the time, but not widely used. My parents made sure I got the jabs when I was about 5. I remember getting a sweet for not crying. Also, polio was around when I was a kid, but the inoculation for that was soon available, about 1956. I also had the smallpox vaccination, as it was around in UK when we were about to go on honeymoon to Spain in 1965, and the Spanish government (Franco) made it a requirement. I believe smallpox is now eradicated worldwide, since the 1980's, as has polio since early 2000's.

[Tucker43 in reply to Lutontown]

Yes whooping cough can leave damage; scarring to lungs and can cause bronchiectasis. I was checked post illness last time and made a full recovery, thankfully, but it took a long time to get back to where I was before the whooping cough hit. I work in health care and we are seeing a worrying increase in measles at the moment 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Nula2]

Hi Tucker, sorry can't offer any advice but wanted to say hope you feel better soon.🤞🤞Take care xxx

[Tucker43 in reply to Nula2]

Thank you

[watergazer]

hi Tucker. Never heard of you getting it twice especially adults. I had whooping cough and measles together when I was five which is why I have dodgy lungs now. No idea how I got rid of it way back then. Take care. X

[Tucker43 in reply to watergazer]

Yes I was unaware you could catch it twice! I wish I had realised this after my infection in 2015 because I would've requested a booster. But here we are, and if it is confirmed that I have it a second time, then I will request a booster when well this time around. As far as I've learnt, the vaccine we have as children gives us immunity between 4-20 years, we're all different. I guess I come into contact with it more due to working in health care.

[watergazer in reply to Tucker43]

think the vaccine means you get a weaker dose of the cough. Think 2 of our grandchildren may have had it recently but no significant whoop , just an awful gut wrenching cough. Take care x

[Tucker43 in reply to watergazer]

I believe children often get the classic whoop but not so much the adults. It's a terrible cough though whatever the noise!

[Zero02]

My daughter, who has secondary breast cancer in her lungs, has had whooping cough for more than three months and can’t shake it off, she’s really poorly. I didn’t realise there was a vaccination. Wishing you better soon.

[Tucker43 in reply to Zero02]

I'm sorry to hear this. When I had it in 2015, I was poorly for nine months and it was a long, slow recovery. This time around (although I'm still waiting for the blood test results to confirm) is definitely less severe but I still feel very breathless and exhausted. Here in the UK we're seeing a massive increase of whooping cough (it's nickname is the 100 day cough) at the moment 🙄

[Germantara]

Must be awfull for you whooping cough is harrendos I didn't relize adults get it daughter had it at 8 it was awfull she now 30 so I can understand how you're feeling my daughter it for 20 weeks a nightmare

[Tucker43 in reply to Germantara]

It's often missed and the UK is seeing a massive increase atm unfortunately

[Patk1]

Get well soon x

[Tucker43 in reply to Patk1]

Thank you

[Tucker43]

BTW - I'm negative for whooping cough. I guess it's a v nasty virus then. I'll update again if I'm wrong ...

[confused71]

I had ti twice 10 years apart Public health advised vaccination -but my GP said only children and pregnant women can have it ---I even asked if i could have it done privately but no was the answer --I hope I dont get it again as it was so horrific