Intermediate School Warns of Possible Whooping Cough Case
The Health Department asks parents to be aware of the possibility that the illness could spread.
The Cape May County Health Department is warning parents that an Ocean City Intermediate School student may have a case of whooping cough (or Pertussis).
The illness is contagious, and parents should contact a doctor if they suspect their child may have symptoms.
A notification posted on the Ocean City School District website on Tuesday (Oct. 16) is as follows:
"This afternoon, our School District received notification that there is one possible case of Pertussis, or whooping cough, at the Intermediate School. The School District immediately contacted the Cape May County Health Department and was informed that this is not a confirmed case but to direct families to contact their family doctor if they have questions.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms can include severe coughing, a runny nose, slight fever (102 F or lower), and diarrhea. In children, the cough will end with a “whoop” noise. This sound is produced when the child tries to take a breath. This cough typically lasts two to three weeks. Pertussis is part of the DPT immunization.
Again, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact your family doctor."
Eleanor
6:19 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
I am all for protecting minors and i know that it is protected medical information but i hope the patient is known to the immediate community - if an intermediate school kid has younger siblings who go to the primary school or neighbor children who do not go to public school and was in contact with them those children are also at risk.
And dont kids who go to public school still have to show immunization forms?
CTA
9:11 am on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Unfortunately , many "modern" parents avoid having their children immunized out of misplaced fears. They go and get waivers and send the kid to school to infect others. And sad to say a good number of those kind of parents live in OC.....most of these called reasons have been disproved....and now fall in the category of "they say" type nut cases.......
mel
4:04 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Intermediate school is around the time a child would need a Tdap booster. Do not presume that the reason for a pertussis case is due to parental neglect or disregard for fellow community members.
CTA
7:05 pm on Wednesday, October 17, 2012
As a health care worker, I know that this is an issue of concern in south jersey. And it's not a case of parental neglect ,but rather parental opinion.....
Robert Scattone
7:34 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
CTA
Are you saying this child was not immunized? Pump your brakes! No vaccines are 100%.