Whooping cough in Fairfax
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Anonymous
FYI, this is the letter I received from Camp: I know my daughter was on the bus with the 10 yo, and one of the girls in her bunk is sick. August 25, 2015 Dear Parent/Guardian: The email below is being sent on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. It has come to our attention that your child may have been in exposed to a person who was diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough) at camp if he/she attended between 07/21/2014 - 08/10/2014. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough, which becomes much worse over 1-2 weeks. Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs ("coughing fits") followed by a whooping noise. However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. People with pertussis may have a series of coughs followed by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching their breath. The cough is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough. The disease can be very severe and, although deaths are rare, usually only occurs in infants less than one year of age. Please click here to review the fact sheet for more information on pertussis. The Pennsylvania Department of Health strongly recommends the following: If your child is coughing, promptly contact your child's doctor. Explain to the doctor your child has been exposed to a case of pertussis and needs to be evaluated. Your child's doctor may obtain a nasopharyngeal culture to test for pertussis. In addition, if the doctor suspects pertussis, an antibiotic will be given to your child to help lower the chance of spreading the disease to others. Your child will be able to return to school after completing the first 5 days of the medication. It is very important that upon returning to school your child continues taking his or her medication until completed. If your child is diagnosed with pertussis, all household members and other close contacts should also be treated with antibiotics regardless of their age or vaccination status. Making sure that children receive all their shots on time is the best way to control pertussis in the future. In children, diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) is only given to those under age 7 years of age. Children should receive one dose of DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and between 15-18 months of age. In addition, one dose is needed before starting school (on or after the 4th birthday). Check with your pediatrician to see if your child is eligible for another dose of DTaP in the accelerated schedule. If you are not sure your child is properly immunized, promptly contact his or her doctor. The combination tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) is recommended for children ages 7 through 10 (if not fully vaccinated) and adolescents and adults as a one-time dose. It is also recommended during EACH pregnancy to protect the newborn infant. Anyone eligible for Tdap may receive it regardless of interval since the most recent tetanus containing vaccine. If you or your doctor has a question about pertussis, please call the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 1-877-724-3258 or you may call the Franklin County State Health Center at 717-263-4143 and ask to speak to a community health nurse. Capital Camps is not able to provide any additional information. Sincerely, The Pennsylvania Department of Health |