Whooping cough case confirmed in Dell Rapids school

A case of whooping cough was confirmed in the Dell Rapids School District on Wednesday.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is spread through respiratory droplets — meaning coughing and sneezing are most common ways the disease is spread.

This is the second case of whooping cough confirmed around the Sioux Falls area in two weeks. The first was confirmed at Horizon Elementary School in Harrisburg.

The case was confirmed at Dell Rapids Elementary School, said Julie Wynja, principal for the school.

Wynja recommended that parents watch to see if their children develop a cough within the next 21 days.

The illness begins with cold symptoms and becomes worse over the next few weeks.

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, beginning symptoms include sneezing, a runny nose, low-grade fever and mild cough. Within two weeks the cough becomes more severe, followed by vomiting and high-pitched whoops, otherwise called "crowing."

"It can be a very serious disease especially for infants, children and the elderly," Gage wrote in a letter to district parents.

The whooping cough vaccine is usually given to children under 7 years old with a booster dose when the children turn 10.

"Most children will not be affected by this exposure," Wynja said. "However, even some adults and children who have been fully immunized for pertussis and people who have a history of pertussis disease may have waning immunity and therefore become infected if exposed to a case of pertussis."

More:Whooping cough case confirmed in Harrisburg School District

A letter was sent out to parents of the Dell Rapids School District Tuesday:

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The South Dakota Department of Health has informed us that a student in our school has been diagnosed with Pertussis (whooping cough). We are alerting parents to be watchful for children with cough illness during the next 21 days.

Pertussis is a contagious disease that is spread through the air by respiratory droplets. It can be a very serious disease especially for infants, children, and the elderly. Pertussis begins with cold symptoms and a cough which becomes much worse over 1-2 weeks. The disease can spread through the air from a sick person during talking, singing, sneezing, or coughing. Pertussis can occur at any age, even in adults and teenagers who are often carriers of the disease. Pertussis vaccine is usually given to children under age 7 years with a booster dose administered after age 10.

Most children will not be affected by this exposure. However, even some adults and children who have been fully immunized for pertussis and people who have a history of pertussis disease may have waning immunity and therefore become infected if exposed to a case of pertussis.

Below is a link to the South Dakota Department of Health with a fact sheet about Pertussis. Please consider seeing your health care provider for testing if your child develops cough illness, especially if cough is paroxysmal (sudden spasms of intensified cough). Case finding is important to be able to identify and treat cases and contacts to stop the spread of this illness.

Julie Wynja

Elementary Principal