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From: martha@geowhiz.UUCP (Martha Savage)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: pertussis (whooping cough) innoculation & side-effects
Message-ID: <361@geowhiz.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Feb-86 12:53:05 EST
Article-I.D.: geowhiz.361
Posted: Mon Feb 10 12:53:05 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Feb-86 07:39:05 EST
References: <308@ucbjade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Distribution: net
Organization: UW Madison, Geology Dept.
Lines: 38

> 
> Our nine-week old daughter is coming up for her first innoculations 
> (pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria: DTP). In the last few years there has been
> a lot of controversy over the possible side-effects of the pertussis part
> of these innoculations, with some arguing (especially in England) that the
> dangers of the side-effects from the innoculation are larger than
> those arising from the disease itself.  We are doing some research into
> the latest literature of this, but would be very interested to have any
> info. that anyone has about the current state of research and opinion,
> and to hear the experience and opinions of others. It can be difficult
> sorting out medical orthodoxy and/or vested interest from the actual
> state of research on something like this, it seems.
> 
> Anthony Bulloch
> Classics Dept.
> UCBerkeley
> Ca. 94720

I worried about this a while ago, reading various literature although
not recent research articles.  I read somewhere that in England whooping
cough has become a problem again because of the lack of innoculations--
several children have died from it.

I finally decided to go ahead with the full DPT, because I really trust my
doctor.  I'm in a type of HMO, so that the pressure is to
not do unnecessary procedures, so that "vested interest" would
point the other way if it wasn't necessary.  More important,
my doctor and her nurse both had their children innoculated
(They were both born within a few months of mine, but that's
another story).  

My son had just a slight fever and crankiness and slept more as
a reaction.  But different kids react differently, and make sure
you ask for and understand any warning signs when it's done.
-- 
         Martha Kane Savage
U. Wisc. Dept. Geology and Geophysics
{ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!geowhiz!martha