By Heather Gann, The Associated Press
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is on the rise nationwide.
Over the past week at least three Alabama high schools have sent letters homes to parents letting them know about a confirmed case in their classrooms.
After a student was diagnosed Tuesday afternoon, Scottsboro High School is working with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) on next steps while custodians follow the same cleaning procedures as they did during COVID.
So far this has been the only case reported this school year in Scottsboro City Schools, according to a note the school sent parents.
But Auburn High School, Corner High School, and Highland Park Elementary have also reported cases recently, according to news reports and Chad Holden, the superintendent of Muscle Shoals City Schools.
“If your child comes down with cold symptoms followed by a cough, it may be necessary to have your child evaluated by a physician,” the note sent to Scottsboro parents reads.
“Tell the doctor that pertussis has been reported in your child’s school and report possible pertussis infections to your school nurse or administration.”
“If your child was seen by a medical provider and Pertussis was suspected, please keep your child at home for the first 5 days of the appropriate antibiotic treatment, or until test results are known.”
What is whooping cough and how can it be prevented?
Whooping cough is caused by bacteria infecting the mouth, nose and throat and is spread through the air by coughing. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection, according to the ADPH.
Usually only close contacts of someone with whooping cough may become infected. It may start with cold-like symptoms (i.e., sneezing/runny nose) followed by a cough that can gradually become worse. Others may develop the cough without any cold symptoms at all.
Those with whooping cough are most contagious during the beginning, cold-like stage and the first 2 weeks after cough onset. The cough usually develops into “coughing fits” which can make one gag or even vomit. Between these “coughing fits” the person appears well.
Coughing in very young children may produce a whooping sound due to trying to catch their breaths (rare in older children). There is generally no fever, and coughing may last four weeks or longer. Adults, teens and vaccinated children often have milder symptoms that may be confused with bronchitis or asthma.
Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that whooping cough cases were climbing back up to pre-pandemic levels.
“It’s likely that preventative actions used during the pandemic (e.g., good hygiene, distancing) lowered transmission of this disease,” the CDC site says.
There have been 18,506 cases of whooping cough reported so far in 2024, the CDC said earlier this month. That’s the most at this point in the year since 2014, when cases topped 21,800.
ADPH and the CDC strongly recommend that parents look into the new whooping cough booster “Tdap,” for children 11 years and older.
In Alabama, the “Dtap” Pertussis vaccine is given until 7 years of age and vaccine protection begins to fade in older children. The booster helps increase protection for adolescent students.
Whooping cough is usually seen mostly in infants and young children, who can develop serious complications. That’s why the vaccine is recommended during pregnancy, to pass along protection to the newborn, and for those who spend a lot of time with infants.
Public health workers say outbreaks this year are hitting older kids and teens.
It’s important to get tested and treated with antibiotics early, said Dr. Kris Bryant, who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at Norton Children’s in Louisville, Kentucky. People exposed to the bacteria can also take antibiotics to stop the spread.
“Pertussis is worth preventing,” Bryant said. “The good news is that we have safe and effective vaccines.”
