Superior School District Warns Of Whooping Cough Cases

The Superior School District sent out an e-mail to parents this week warning that cases of pertussis have a been circulating in the community. The Douglas County Department of Health and Human Services has issued a press release about the respiratory illness.

Pertussis "Whooping Cough" Information

Pertussis, also known as whopping cough, is caused by a bacteria that infects the lungs and causes a persistent cough. People of all ages can be affected by whooping cough, but it is most serious in young children and infants.

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How Long Is It Contagious?

Whooping cough can be spread without people even realizing they are sick. It can spread 7 days before the person even develops a cough. It can continue to spread up to 21 days after the cough starts unless a treatment of antibiotics has been prescribed.

What are the symptoms?

Pertussis starts out like a cold. After a week of the cold, the cough worsens and can become severe, leading to vomiting or a high-pitched whoop sound. It sounds like this:

What do you do if you or your child have symptoms?

You should contact your health provider and be tested for pertussis. Not only does it help you, but it also helps track the illness in the community. The School District of Superior asks that you keep your child home, and contact the school to inform them of the case so they can help the health department track data.

Stay up to date on pertussis vaccine.

Children should routinely receive the pertussis vaccine. Adults are administered boosters. The vaccine can help prevent pertussis and also help it be less severe if someone does get infected.

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How does it spread?

Pertussis spreads through droplets from coughing, sneezing, or even talking. As always, the best line of defense is to wash your hands often.

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

Gallery Credit: Rachel Cavanaugh