Pertussis confirmed at Bigfork Schools
On Monday the Bigfork Schools sent out a notification to parents that an individual at Bigfork Schools was diagnosed with pertussis, which is commonly called “whooping cough.”
The notice also told parents if their child had been directly exposed, a staff person from the Flathead County Health Department will contact them regarding precautions for their child.
Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and an irritating cough that gradually becomes much worse over one or two weeks. The cough can turn into a long series of coughs followed by a whooping noise as air refills the lungs. However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. People with pertussis may have a series of coughs followed by vomiting, turning blue or difficulty catching their breath.
At this time, the Flathead City-County Health Department strongly recommends parents and guardians take the following steps:
• If your child is coughing, promptly contact your child’s health care provider. Explain that your child may have been exposed to a case of pertussis and needs to be evaluated. The provider may obtain a nasopharyngeal culture to test for pertussis. In addition, if pertussis is suspected, an antibiotic will be given to your child to lower the chance of spreading the disease to others. Medication may not decrease the length or severity of illness.
• If your child is diagnosed with pertussis, all household members and other close contacts should also be treated with antibiotics regardless of their age or immunization status.
•A new combination tetanus, diphtheria and acellular vaccine (Tdap) is available for use in adolescents and adults.
• Making sure that children receive all their shots on time is the best way to control pertussis in the future. Children should receive one dose of DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and between 15-18 months. In addition, one dose is needed before starting school. An additional dose of Tdap vaccine is required at 7th-grade entry. If you are not sure your child is properly immunized, promptly contact your medical provider. If your child has not received the required Tdap vaccine, he/she may be excluded from school if exposed to whooping cough.
If you have questions about pertussis, call the Bigfork school nurse, Jennifer Knopik, or the family health care provider.