Important Notice
A student at Colorado State University has been diagnosed with pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Pertussis is a contagious illness that is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs and another individual breathes in the bacteria. Symptoms of pertussis usually develop 7 to 10 days after exposure but can develop from 4 to 21 days after exposure.
Close contacts of persons diagnosed with pertussis have been notified and treated with a preventive course of antibiotics. Close contacts are defined as household contacts and other persons having direct prolonged exposure to a person with pertussis while that person was contagious and was coughing or sneezing. Classroom exposure is not typically considered close contact. Classes who have been exposed have been notified through their instructors.
Students and staff with a cough should inform their physician if they've had a possible exposure to pertussis and be examined. If your physician suspects pertussis you should be tested (PCR is the preferred test) and receive an appropriate antibiotic for pertussis. Students or staff diagnosed with pertussis cannot return to school until completing five days of an appropriate antibiotic.
Pertussis begins with a cough that progressively becomes more severe until the person develops coughing fits. In between coughing fits, the individual may look and feel fine. Vomiting, breathlessness, a change in facial color, and/or a whooping sound may follow the coughing fits. Pertussis may be very severe in infants and young children (especially those without 3 doses of pertussis vaccine), resulting in hospitalization, seizures, long-term neurological problems, and even death. Pertussis can occur in immunized individuals, because the immunity gained from vaccination typically wanes by adolescence.
We also recommend you review immunization records to ensure they are up-to-date on their shots. Two new pertussis vaccines (Tdap) were licensed in the summer of 2005 for use in adolescents and adults and may be available at your health care provider.
In summary, we recommend the following:
- Contact your health care provider if you have had a prolonged cough.
- If diagnosed with pertussis complete a course of an appropriate antibiotic for pertussis.
- Individuals diagnosed with pertussis will be excluded from school or caring for young children until they have completed 5 days of an appropriate antibiotic.
- Review the DTaP/Tdap immunization records and arrange for vaccination if not up to date. Hartshorn Health Service has the Tdap vaccination available for $45. Immunization dept. hours are M-F 9:00am to 12:00noon and 1:00pm to 4:00pm. No appointment needed.
If you have any questions please contact Hartshorn Health Service 491-7121