Health Notice
By Lonye Gilles
September 03, 2010
A student at Brimfield High School has been diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis is a bacterial infection spread by respiratory droplets released into the air through coughing and sneezing.
Symptoms of pertussis may appear 5-10 days following exposure, but in can take as long as 21 days.
1st stage of pertussis begins with cold-like symptoms: runny nose, low grade fever (if present) and a mild cough that slowly gets worse. This stage lasts 1-2 weeks and it’s during this time that a person with pertussis is most contagious.
2nd stage: marked by severe and spasmodic coughing. The cough can have a “whooping” sound on inhalation and vomiting can result.
Most people recover completely from pertussis, but complications can result in high risk groups, especially infants and children who have not been fully immunized against the disease.
The Peoria City/County Department in accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health rules and regulations recommends that all close contacts with a person with a verified case of pertussis receive antibiotic treatment regardless of vaccination history.
If you suspect that your child may have pertussis, contact your doctor immediately and notify the school if pertussis is verified.
