Saturday, October 26, 2013

Journal 10

Health Alert:

It has been reported that your child may have been exposed to whopping cough (Pertussis) at the center.

What it is:
Whooping cough is a contageous disease spread by bacteria. It is most common in children under 5 years of age. It causes severe coughing spells. Whopping cough can also lead to pnemonia, convultions, bleeding of the brain and sometimes death.

How is it spread:

Whooping cough is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is contageous from the beginning of the cold until 5 to 7 days after treatment with antibiotics starts.

What to look for:

It begins with an irritating cough, cold and a runny nose, the cough becomes more servere and ends with a high pitch whoop. Thick, clear, sticky mucous may be coughed up.

What you can do:

Medical supervision is recommended.

If you suspect your child has been infected:

Seek medical attention. This is a very contageous disease.

What we are doing to prevent the spread:

Proper hand washing, not allowing children to share food or drinks, advising children to cover thier mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. There is also a vaccine to prevent Whooping Cough.

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