The Santa Rosa County Health Department (SRCHD) is investigating a laboratory-confirmed case of pertussis, or “whooping cough,” in a Santa Rosa County student.

Because this disease can be very serious to infants younger than 12 months, the health department is in contact with the individuals who may have been exposed and is working to prevent this from becoming a widespread outbreak.  The infected student was advised to remain home from school and social activities until finished with antibiotics.

 

What is Pertussis (Whooping Cough):

·         It spreads only through very close contact – typically when an infected person coughs or sneezes on to another person -- and is highly contagious.

·         It is one of the most common vaccine-preventable childhood diseases in the United States; the regular schedule of immunizations protects infants and children from pertussis.

·         Most healthy children and adults will recover from pertussis, although the disease can be deadly to infants under 12 months old.

·         It is treated with antibiotics. 

·         Symptoms

.        Begins with runny nose or congestion, sneezing, and maybe mild cough or fever.

.        Coughing begins after 1-2 weeks.  Children may cough violently, inhaling air with a loud “whooping” sound.

.        It is distinguished from a common cold or the flu by severe coughing attacks with a high pitched sound when the person inhales.

.        Pertussis is worse for very young children and half of infants under age 1 who get the disease must be hospitalized.

.        In rare cases, the pertussis causes a brain disorder called encephalopathy and can cause 10-20 deaths in the U.S. each year.

 

What Parents Should Do:

Individuals who may have been exposed to the infected student are being contacted by the health department.

Contact your family physician if you have symptoms.

Bring your children’s immunizations up-to-date.

There is now a vaccine for children as young as eleven years old -- however vaccine does not protect a person who has already been exposed.

 

Prevent the Spread of Disease
Citizens can also help prevent the spread of disease by taking the following precautions: 

 

·         Washing hands properly

·         Covering nose/mouth when coughing

·         Staying at home when sick

·         Alerting their pediatrician immediately if their children start to cough

 

 

For more information on pertussis, visit http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis and for immunization schedules, visit www.healthysantarosa.com.