Pertussis case confirmed at Bend’s Elk Meadow Elementary
A case of pertussis, or whooping cough, was confirmed recently at Bend’s Elk Meadow Elementary School, parents were informed by letter Monday.
In the letter, Bend-La Pine Schools Health Services Supervisor Tami Pike urged parents to take steps to prevent or reduce the risk of developing the illness. If their child has a respiratory illness, she said, they should contact their doctor for evaluation and tell them of the case of pertussis at Elk Meadow.
The Illness begins as a mild upper respiratory infection and resembles a common cold (sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever, mild cough). Usually, within two weeks, cough becomes more severe and is characterized by episodes of numerous rapid coughs followed by a crowing of high-pitched whooping sound and is sometimes followed by vomiting. A thick, clear mucous may be discharged. These episodes may recur for one to two months and are more frequent at night.
When pertussis is suspected and antibiotics prescribed, the child cannot attend school until they have taken at least five days of the prescribed medication, to ensure they are no longer contagious.
As of mid-May, Deschutes County Public Health had confirmed four cases this year, one in an adult and three in high school students, two at Summit High School and one at Bend High.
Pertussis can be a serious illness and is one of the most commonly occurring vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, officials said. Infants and medically fragile children are at the highest risk of serious illness and, in rare cases, death.
” The best prevention against pertussis is up to date immunizations for Tdap , ” Pike wrote. ” Vaccines are not 100% effective and it is still possible to become ill with pertussis, however, illness tends to be less severe in those people who are vaccinated.
Anyone with questions was urged to contact the Deschutes County Health Services Communicable Disease Line at 541-322-7418.
For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html
