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Friday - December 17, 2010


12/17/10AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL NURSESThe District of Columbia Department of Health has issued an advisory report of two confirmed cases of Pertussis (whooping cough) in children less than 18 years of age. Both cases were current on their Pertussis vaccinations. Pertussis cases have increased across the country. The DC Department of Health has not yet observed a significant increase this year in Pertussis cases but the Virginia Department of Health has recently posted on its website a warning that Pertussis incidence in the state is increasing. We do not know of any advisories posted by the Maryland Department of Health. Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that is spread via respiratory droplets. The incubation period (i.e. the time it takes between being exposed to the illness and the development of signs and symptoms) is between 4 and 21 days, but more commonly evolves over 7 to 10 days. The illness generally begins as a common cold with a low-grade fever, developing into a very distinctive-sounding cough and more severe illness after two weeks. Pertussis can be a very serious disease, especially among infants.If your child is 11 years of age or older and has not received the Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis booster, please contact your pediatrician for advice. Please see the CDC website for more information on this illness by clicking here. Please pay particular attention if a family member develops a persistent cough that lasts for several weeks or experiences the classic sound of the “whoop” that occurs during a coughing spasm. To hear the whooping cough sound, click here. If you have any concerns, please contact the School Nurses:For MS/US Nurse Jasmin Whitfield whitfieldj@sidwell.edu or 202-537-8130For LS Barbara Conte conteb@sidwell.edu or 202-537-6992Please notify the School if your child is diagnosed with this illness.


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