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Buffalo Grove High School announces case of whooping cough

Buffalo Grove High School officials confirmed Friday that a sophomore student has been diagnosed with pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough.

According to the Cook County Health and Hospital System, pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial infection.

Health officials say adults and teens usually have milder symptoms without the characteristic "whoop" but can spread the disease to others. Symptoms usually appear five to 10 days after exposure but can take as long as 21 days.

The first symptoms are similar to those of a common cold: a runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever and a mild, occasional cough. The symptoms may progress to severe coughing fits particularly at night, with "whooping" (primarily in children), and vomiting after coughing. The cough associated with pertussis usually lasts several weeks.

The infection is spread through coughing and sneezing and is often treated with antibiotics, health officials said.

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