Dear Parents/Guardians,
The Indiana Department of Health requires schools to inform you that there are two students that are being treated for pertussis (whooping cough) at Orleans Elementary School. There has not been a confirmed case at the school however, these students live with other individuals within the home that have tested positive for pertussis. Pertussis is a contagious respiratory illness. The bacteria that cause pertussis are spread person-to-person by coughing, sneezing, or sharing the same breathing space as a contagious person for a prolonged period of time.
Symptoms of pertussis usually begin 7 to 10 days (up to 21 days) following exposure. The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to a common cold and may include runny or stuffed-up nose, mild cough, and low-grade fever. After a week or two, the cough becomes more severe and may occur more frequently during sleep. As the cough worsens, it may include rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits (paroxysms), which may cause people to vomit or make a high pitched “whoop” sound when breathing in after the coughing fit. Symptoms of pertussis may be milder in adolescents and adults than young children. Pertussis is especially serious in babies under 12 months old. Babies with pertussis may not develop a cough; instead, pertussis may cause babies to struggle to breathe, turn blue or purple (cyanosis), or have pauses in breathing (apnea).
It is important that you not send your child to school if he or she has symptoms of pertussis. If your child has symptoms of pertussis, contact your doctor. If children with these symptoms are present in school, their parents may be called to take them home and have them evaluated by a physician. Please take this letter to your child’s physician as a source of reference. If your physician suspects that your child has pertussis, testing may be performed. If your physician diagnoses your child with pertussis, the student must remain isolated at home until after taking 5 FULL days of an appropriate antibiotic or for 21 days after cough onset (if untreated). All household members of a case of pertussis should also be given antibiotics for prevention.
The best way to prevent pertussis is by staying up-to-date on pertussis vaccination. Fully vaccinated persons can still contract pertussis; however, vaccinated persons’ symptoms will usually be milder than in those who are not vaccinated. It is recommended that you check the vaccination status of all family members and make sure they are up-to-date on recommended pertussis vaccines. Contact your physician or the Orange County Health Department for assistance determining if vaccination is needed for any of your family members. More information about pertussis is available: https://www.in.gov/health/erc/infectious-disease-epidemiology/diseases-and-conditions-resource-page/pertussis-whooping-cough/. If you have any additional questions or would like additional information, please contact your healthcare provider or the Public Health Nurse (Megan Manship) at the Orange County Health Department at (812)723-7113 or by email at [email protected] THANK YOU.