Whooping Cough information
One of our students has tested positive for Pertussis which is also known as whooping cough. The students will be out of school until completing five days of antibiotic therapy; however, this student has had contact with students in numerous grade levels, so we urge parents of elementary, middle, and high school students to be on alert for symptoms.
Attached is a fact sheet for parents on Pertussis. Four Corners Health Department has seen an increase in the number of Pertussis infections reported statewide. This increase mirrors what is occurring across the country. The immunity from vaccination wanes over time, such that nearly all adolescents and adults are susceptible to Pertussis. Illness in adolescents and adults is typically milder than in infants and young children. Infants and young children are at higher risk of complications from Pertussis.
Coughs due to Pertussis in adults and adolescents may be difficult to distinguish from colds or influenza. Typically, coughs due to colds or influenza improve within two weeks. Coughs due to Pertussis persist for weeks or months, occurring in sudden coughing episodes. Vomiting may follow these coughing episodes. Therefore, persons with a chronic cough, with either sudden coughing episodes and/or vomiting, should be evaluated by a physician.
Antibiotics can shorten the duration of communicability, but not the duration of symptoms. The antibiotics used to treat persons exposed to Pertussis are Azithromycin once a day for five days, Clarithromycin twice a day for seven days, or Erythromycin four times per day for 14 days. Another alternative is Bactrim or Septra twice a day for 14 days. If an untreated person with Pertussis has been coughing for more than 21 days, no antibiotic therapy is needed, as the Pertussis bacterial are cleared within 21 days. Cough suppressants (prescription and over-the-counter) are not effective and may trigger sudden coughing episodes.
If you have children under seven in your household, it is important that you make sure that he/she is up-to-date for Pertussis vaccination. The primary Pertussis vaccination is usually given at two, four, six, 15-18 months and a booster at 4-6 years. Recently, two Pertussis vaccines have been approved for persons over 11 years old. These vaccines include the tetanus booster that is given approximately every 10 years. As a parent, you need to make sure that your immunizations, including TDP (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis combined) are also up to date.
If you have further questions, please contact Linda Luebbe, School Nurse by phone at 402-643-2988 or 402-643-2986 or e-mail Linda.Luebbe@sewardschools.org.
Whooping Cough information sheet for parents