Health Update for District 36
Pertussis Update - November 23, 2010
Currently, District 36 has had twelve confirmed cases of pertussis (whooping cough) at Carleton Washburne School, two confirmed at The Skokie School and one confirmed case at Crow Island School. The Cook County Department of Public Health has advised us in each of these situations.
"Pertussis is a highly contagious illness that is easily transmitted through coughing and sneezing and may persist among a population for weeks to months. Symptoms of pertussis usually occur 5 to 10 days after exposure, but can take up to 21 days to appear. Initially symptoms are similar to a common cold: a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough. However, the cough can become severe and spasmodic - with a distinctive "whooping" sound - and can progress to vomiting between bouts of coughing.
Patients with pertussis or suspected pertussis must remain home from day care, school, work, and public gatherings for at least 5 days after the start of appropriate antibiotic therapy to limit further transmission. Most children are immunized against pertussis infection by receiving a series of vaccine doses as DTaP vaccine. However, immunity wanes as they reach adolescence."
Please check with your healthcare provider about a booster for your child. If you have any questions about pertussis, please contact the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit at CCDPH, 708-492-2150, during normal working hours, or 708-492-2000 after hours.
Gastrointestinal Illness
Students have been ill with a stomach virus. The most common symptoms of this stomach virus are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, and/or a low-grade fever. GI illnesses are easily spread by direct person-to-person contact, consumption of fecally contaminated food or water, and sometimes through aerosolization from vomit. Frequent and proper hand washing hygiene is required to reduce the risk of transmission. Cleanliness is extremely important during a gastrointestinal illness. Keep your child home if he or she is not feeling well.
The child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.
If your child has a fever 100 degrees or more he or she must be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
All classrooms, eating areas, and bathroom surfaces are being properly cleansed daily. Over this Thanksgiving break we are having our maintenance staff do an enhanced cleaning.
Be well and stay healthy!
Dr. Ken Cull
Interim Superintendent
Dr. Mark Friedman
Interim Superintendent
Currently, District 36 has had twelve confirmed cases of pertussis (whooping cough) at Carleton Washburne School, two confirmed at The Skokie School and one confirmed case at Crow Island School. The Cook County Department of Public Health has advised us in each of these situations.
"Pertussis is a highly contagious illness that is easily transmitted through coughing and sneezing and may persist among a population for weeks to months. Symptoms of pertussis usually occur 5 to 10 days after exposure, but can take up to 21 days to appear. Initially symptoms are similar to a common cold: a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough. However, the cough can become severe and spasmodic - with a distinctive "whooping" sound - and can progress to vomiting between bouts of coughing.
Patients with pertussis or suspected pertussis must remain home from day care, school, work, and public gatherings for at least 5 days after the start of appropriate antibiotic therapy to limit further transmission. Most children are immunized against pertussis infection by receiving a series of vaccine doses as DTaP vaccine. However, immunity wanes as they reach adolescence."
Please check with your healthcare provider about a booster for your child. If you have any questions about pertussis, please contact the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Unit at CCDPH, 708-492-2150, during normal working hours, or 708-492-2000 after hours.
Gastrointestinal Illness
Students have been ill with a stomach virus. The most common symptoms of this stomach virus are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, and/or a low-grade fever. GI illnesses are easily spread by direct person-to-person contact, consumption of fecally contaminated food or water, and sometimes through aerosolization from vomit. Frequent and proper hand washing hygiene is required to reduce the risk of transmission. Cleanliness is extremely important during a gastrointestinal illness. Keep your child home if he or she is not feeling well.
The child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school.
If your child has a fever 100 degrees or more he or she must be fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications for 24 hours prior to returning to school.
All classrooms, eating areas, and bathroom surfaces are being properly cleansed daily. Over this Thanksgiving break we are having our maintenance staff do an enhanced cleaning.
Be well and stay healthy!
Dr. Ken Cull
Interim Superintendent
Dr. Mark Friedman
Interim Superintendent
