Whooping cough found at SLO County high school, officials say. Here’s what to know
An Atascadero High School student was diagnosed with whooping cough, district officials confirmed Friday.
Whooping cough — or pertussis — is a highly contagious respiratory infection known to cause serious illness in infants and children.
Symptoms of pertussis appear similar to a common cold and can include a low fever, runny nose, sneezing and a cough that becomes more severe as time passes, especially at night. It may lead to fits of coughing with a potential for vomiting.
School officials reported that symptoms of whooping cough typically develop between seven and 10 days after exposure, but can take up to 21 days.
The illness is most contagious between the development of cold-like symptoms and up to three weeks after the onset of severe coughing, according to the district. Vaccinated individuals can be diagnosed with whooping cough but typically experience milder symptoms.
School officials encouraged families to monitor their children for symptoms of whooping cough to prevent the spread.
“If your child has developed symptoms of pertussis, including runny nose, sneezing and low grade fever please stay home and contact your physician,” AUSD Nursing Services wrote in a notice to parents. “Antibiotics can be given to shorten the period of communicability (ability to infect others) and reduce the spread of the disease.”
Students diagnosed with whooping cough will be permitted to return to school after they have completed a five-day course of antibiotics, school officials wrote.
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