Notice to Parents About Pertussis

August 23, 2012

Notice to D219 Parents About Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
 
D219 has become aware of three cases of pertussis (whooping cough) among its students. The school nurses at Niles West and Nile North High Schools are posting this notice to inform parents about this contagious disease.
 
All incoming Niles Township freshmen are required to have booster vaccines for pertussis, and many Niles Township students are already immunized against pertussis.  If you are not sure if your child is protected, please call your doctor’s office. In addition, it is important for adults to get this vaccine, because most adults have not been vaccinated since they were children. 

Symptoms of pertussis may appear 5 to 10 days following exposure, but can take up to 21 days to develop.  The first symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of a common cold: a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough.  Coughing becomes progressively more severe over a period of one to two weeks.  A distinctive “whooping” sound and/or vomiting may follow bouts of coughing.  A fever may or may not be seen with pertussis infection.  Although most people recover completely from pertussis, complications from the disease can be severe. The most serious consequences of pertussis occur among infants, particularly those less than one year of age and older adults.
 
Niles Township High School students can receive this vaccination at the Skokie Health Department.  Please call 847-933-8252 for an appointment.  Students must bring a copy of their immunization records with them to the health department.