A student in the Bristol Township School District has whooping cough.
The student was being treated for whooping cough, also known by the medical name of pertussis, as of Friday, according to a letter sent home to parents.
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The age of the student and which of the district’s school they attended was not listed in the letter from district health coordinator Regina Jones and Superintendent Dr. Melanie Gehrens.
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 eradicated by vaccines until recent years when more and more cases began to spring up. Doctors blame the resurgence on a variety of factors, including the vaccine wearing off and parents who do not get their kids vaccinated properly.
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Officials from the school district said any students exhibiting signs of whooping cough should be evaluated by a medical professional. Also, students suffering from the illness will not be permitted back to school until at least five days of antibiotics is administered.
