KETTERING — One case of whooping cough has been confirmed in the Kettering City School District.
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A district spokesperson said the incident was reported at Kettering Fairmont High School.
Kettering Fairmont High School Principal Karin Denslow sent a letter to parents and guardians informing them about the illness.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is highly contagious and is characterised by a harsh “dry cough” followed by a high-pitched breathing sound that sounds like a “whooshing” sound. Mayo Clinic.
Whooping cough typically begins with a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, a mild cough, or a mild fever. Dayton & Montgomery County Public Health Department.
After a week or two, you may develop a severe cough that makes it difficult to breathe, eat, drink, and sleep.
“The coughing fits are frequent at night and can sometimes result in vomiting,” Denslow wrote in the letter.
The school district is advising parents to contact a doctor if their student experiences these symptoms.
People with whooping cough usually spread the disease when they cough or sneeze while in close contact with other people, who then inhale the pertussis bacteria.
Health officials say the best prevention against whooping cough is vaccination. There are whooping cough vaccines for infants, children, adolescents and adults.
To learn more about whooping cough here.
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