High School Student Diagnosed With Whooping Cough In Pleasanton

PLEASANTON, CA — Some Pleasanton high school students returning from holiday break possibly were exposed to pertussis in December, school officials said. In November, several Foothill High School students were diagnosed with the highly contagious respiratory infection known as whooping cough, and parents were notified by email Tuesday morning of another recently reported case.

School district officials said the Alameda County Public Health Department notified them of the illness and said students were last exposed on Dec. 22. Those who were exposed could come down with the illness as late as Jan. 12, according to health department officials.

Due to confidentiality issues, the student’s name was not released, and notification letters were only sent to parents of students who attend class with the infected child. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection spread by coughing, sneezing in close quarters and kissing.

Officials shared some of the health advisory information given to parents of students who may have been exposed:

Health Advisory- Please Read Immediately
Your Child May Have Been Exposed to a Case of Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Pertussis symptoms
Pertussis usually starts like a cold, with stuffy or runny nose, a mild cough, and a low fever (or no fever). The cough steadily worsens. Typically coughing fits or spasms occur where the child coughs so much that they have problems catching their breath, or may vomit or gag after coughing. Occasionally when they inhale after a coughing fit they may make a high-pitched "whooping" sound.

How long does it take to develop symptoms?

• Pertussis symptoms can start within 5-21 days (usually 7-10 days) after contact with the ill person.
• The last known date of exposure for your child was (date).
• The last date your child might come down with pertussis from that exposure is (date).

How do you get exposed to pertussis?
Pertussis is spread when a person who is sick with pertussis:

• Coughs or sneezes in another person's face
• While coughing, shares a confined space, like a regular sized room, for more than one (1) hour with others
• Kisses someone

Who should take antibiotics to prevent pertussis infection after an exposure?
High risk contacts are those people who may get very sick from pertussis or who are in close contact (see above) with people who could become very sick from pertussis. High risk contacts should be vaccinated against pertussis and if they are exposed to it may also need to take antibiotics to prevent getting sick with pertussis and spreading it to other high risk people. High risk contacts include:

• Infants younger than 12 months
• Pregnant women in their 3rd trimester*
• People who work with or are regularly around infants younger than 12 months or women in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy

*Pregnant women should get a booster dose of Tdap in the third trimester of every pregnancy. This helps the unborn baby develop some immunity until they can get their first immunization at 2 months.

If your child has high risk contacts at home:
If there are high risk contacts at home, your child should receive antibiotics to prevent pertussis and protect those who are at highest risk of becoming very sick. Even if your child has no symptoms, it is recommended that s/he take antibiotics to protect those at high risk of serious illness. Make an appointment with his/her doctor and bring this letter with you.

What to do if your child develops symptoms:

• Keep your child home from school or daycare or camp.
• Take your child to his/her health care provider for evaluation, and bring this letter with you.
• Get your child vaccinated for pertussis if s/he is not up-to-date.
• Identify people who live in your household or take care of your children who are considered "high risk" for serious illness (see above) and have them contact ACD at 510-267-3250.
• What to do if your child does not have symptoms
• Make sure your child is up to date on pertussis vaccine and if s/he is not up-to-date take him/her to get vaccinated.
• Most children do NOT need preventive antibiotics. If your child has a history of severe lung disease or immune system weakness, consult your child's health care provider about whether preventive antibiotics are needed.
• Watch for pertussis symptoms and follow the instructions above if they occur.

If you have any questions please call your local health department or the Acute Communicable Disease Control Unit at the Alameda County Department of Public Health, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at (510) 267-3250.

See Also:

• You Are Probably Washing Your Hands Wrong: Proper Hand Hygiene 101
  
• 27 Under Age Of 65 Die From Flu In California: Report

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