A student at Bucks County Technical High School in Bristol Township has come down with a case of whooping cough.
The highly contagious respiratory infection was reported last week in a letter sent out by the school’s principal.
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The Mayo Clinic states whooping cough is “marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like ‘whoop.’” The illness is rarely fatal but can be dangerous for those with weakened immune systems and infants.
Whooping cough was nearly irradiated by vaccines until recent years when more and more cases began to spring up. Doctors blame the resurgence on a variety of factors.
Students from the Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts all make up the student body of the tech school.
Dear BCTHS Parent/Guardian:
A student at Bucks County Technical High School has met the criteria for a diagnosis of Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough.
As per the Bucks County Health Department, Pertussis is a bacterial infection that usually begins with mild upper respiratory symptoms similar to a cold accompanied by a mild to moderate cough, often lasting more than 2 weeks. The cough worsens, often becoming coughing fits, followed by vomiting or difficulty catching a breath. There may be no other signs of illness between coughs. The symptoms can last 1-3 months.
If your child is showing symptoms of Pertussis, he/she should be evaluated by a health care provider and possibly treated. If symptoms of disease are present and treatment is recommended by your health care provider, your student should not return to school until five (5) days of antibiotics are completed.
Treatment with antibiotics can also prevent illness after exposure to a person with Pertussis if started within 3 weeks. Contact your health care provider for more information.
Although many students have protection or immunity against Pertussis, some immunized children may still not be fully protected against Pertussis, as vaccine protection wears off over time. Contact your health care provider for more information on the specific Pertussis vaccine that may be available for your child’s age group.
If you would like further information on pertussis, the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov) is an excellent resource.
Sincerely,
Joe Fullerton, Principal
