'Whooping Cough' Hits Concord High School

CONCORD, NH - The Concord School District is warning parents that two high school student athletes – specifically, baseball players – have been diagnosed with pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, according to Terri Forsten, the superintendent of schools.

In an email to parents and the district, Forsten warned that while not a “serious concern,” since the sickness is readily treated, whooping cough is highly contagious and therefore, it was important for the district to let the school community know.

ALSO READ:

• Letter from William Storo, MD
• Pertussis facts from NH DHHS

Forsten issued two links in the email (see above) – a PDF fact sheet from the state and also a note from Dr. William Storo, the district’s supervising physician.

Storo noted that there were two students that would be quarantined and removed from all school, sports, and other activities for five days.

“Pertussis is a coughing illness that is spread by close contact with an infected individual, usually spread by droplet exposure from the cough,” he stated. “Symptoms can take 5 to 21 days to appear, though typically become apparent in 7 to 10 days. Symptoms are primarily cough without much cold symptoms or fever. Coughing usually comes in fits, with many coughs in a row lasting minutes, sometimes with a deep breath (or “whoop”) afterwards, and may cause vomiting after coughing episodes.”

Storo also recommended all students, faculty, staffers, family members, or friends that might have had “close contact” with a student with pertussis to take avoidance antibiotics to help avoid developing it. Anyone with close contact that also begins coughing should immediately see their primary care physician.