District Responding to Whooping Cough Case at Clemson Elementary

Clemson Elementary has notified parents of a confirmed case of whooping cough (pertussis) at the school this school year. The Department of Health and Environmental Control informed the school about the issue on September 3.

According to health officials, other students may have been exposed from August 20-23.

Parents have been notified through a letter and a phone message. Health privacy law forbids the district from issuing identifying information about the student. However, the student was in the school long enough for there to be a risk for all students at the school, and we strongly advise all parents to be on the look-out for pertussis symptoms. DHEC has assured the district that all students known to have come in direct contact with the infected child would be notified.

According to DHEC, pertussis symptoms have two stages. The first stage begins like a cold with a runny nose, sneezing, and cough. The cough may slowly get worse after a week or two.

The second stage is marked by uncontrolled coughing spells and a whooping noise (in young children) when the person inhales. During severe coughing spells, a person may gag or vomit and have trouble breathing. Babies may become blue in the face from lack of air. Between spells, the person often appears to be well. This stage lasts for 4 to 6 weeks.

The district’s letter to parents shared the following recommendations from DHEC to help reduce the spread of pertussis:

If your child has symptoms of pertussis (persistent cough, etc.), please have him/her evaluated as soon as possible by your healthcare provider. Antibiotics early in the course of the disease may decrease the severity of symptoms.

Parents were encouraged to bring the district letter with them to their child’s appointment.

Your healthcare provider may test your child for pertussis if he/she has a new or different cough, with other severe symptoms.

People with pertussis should not attend school or childcare until they have completed 5 days of antibiotics or have been coughing longer than 21 days.

Children with pertussis who are out of school or childcare should stay home and not have visitors until they have completed 5 full days of an appropriate antibiotic. All public activities such as sports, musical events, religious activities, shopping, etc. should also be avoided.

If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough, your healthcare provider may offer antibiotics to people living in the house. These antibiotics may prevent other family members from becoming sick with this disease.

Ask your healthcare provider if your family members are up‐to‐date on vaccines that help prevent pertussis.

Parents with additional questions should contact Karen Jordan, RN, of SC DHEC Upstate Public Health Office at (864) 372-3133, or Angela Watson, RN, SDPC Coordinator of Nursing at (864) 397-1048.