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Important Notice: Whooping Cough
Whooping Cough Notice!
Dear Parents,
We have had confirmed that one of our parents in the Junior School has contracted Whooping Cough and this has been diagnosed. She has two children one in stage one and one in stage three both of whom are unwell.
At this time all necessary medical intervention is taking place however please note the information below may be of assistance should your child become unwell.
If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough please contact Barbra Whelan, the Headmaster’s PA, at your earliest convenience.
Regards
James Webb - Deputy Headmaster
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough can be a life threatening infection in babies. Whooping cough in babies can lead to apnoea (pauses in normal breathing), pneumonia, feeding problems and weight loss, seizures, brain damage and, in some cases, death. Older children and adults can get whooping cough too and pass it on to babies.
What are the symptoms?
· Whooping cough usually begins like a cold with a blocked or runny nose, tiredness, mild fever and a cough.
· The cough gets worse and severe bouts of uncontrollable coughing can develop. Coughing bouts can be followed by vomiting, choking or taking a big gasping breath which causes a "whooping" sound. The cough can last for many weeks and can be worse at night.
· Some newborns may not cough at all but they can stop breathing and turn blue. Some babies have difficulties feeding and can choke or gag.
· Older children and adults may just have a cough that lasts for many weeks. They may not have the whoop.
How is it spread?
· Whooping cough is spread when an infectious person coughs bacteria into the air which can be inhaled by people nearby. If they are not treated early, people with whooping cough are infectious in the first three weeks of their illness.
· Whooping cough spreads easily through families, childcare centres and at school.
