New Hanover County Schools said today that the county health department is investigating a case of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough,” at Castle Hayne Elementary School, located at 3925 Roger Haynes Dr. The Mayo Clinic defines pertussis as “a highly-contagious respiratory tract infection.” According to NHCS, the health department has said the affected students may not return to school until they have been on antibiotics for at least five days and have been released by their physician.
Pertussis is caused by bacteria that is spread through the air by coughing and infect the mouth, nose and throat. Other information on pertussis includes:
• Pertussis symptoms appear 5-21 days after coming into contact with someone with pertussis infection.
• It begins with cold-like symptoms (sneezing and a runny nose) and a mild occasional cough.
• After 1-2 weeks, the cough worsens and the person may have coughing attacks or spells of coughing, along with difficulty breathing, gagging or vomiting after coughing.
• An unusual “whoop” sound might be heard in young children as they breathe during the coughing episodes.
• Household and high-risk contacts to a confirmed case of pertussis should receive antibiotics to avoid contracting pertussis.
The New Hanover County Health Department can be reached at 910-798-6500.
