Information for parents, teachers and childcare workers
Whooping cough (pertussis)
In recent months there has been an increase in the number of school-aged children in NSW diagnosed with whooping cough (pertussis).
Please be on the look out for symptoms of whooping cough:
- a runny nose, followed by a cough, which becomes worse (older children and adults may have only a cough that can last for several months)
- a cough that occurs in spasms, which may be followed by vomiting
- a cough with a 'whoop' (a sudden noisy gasp at the end of coughing)
In order to prevent further cases, if your child or any member of your family has symptoms of whooping cough please see your doctor and take this notice with you. This is extremely important if there is a baby less than 12 months of age living in the household. Pertussis can be a serious life-threatening infection for babies.
If your doctor diagnoses whooping cough in its early, infectious stage (within 3 weeks of the cough starting), please advise the school and keep your child at home until they have taken 5 days of antibiotics.
Immunisation reduces the risk of infection, however the vaccine does not give lifelong protection, and reinfection can occur. The vaccine is provided free of charge for infants at 2, 4 and 6 months and again at 4 years. Please check that your child has received this primary course. If your child has not been fully immunised, discuss a catch-up plan with your doctor.
Because protection wanes with time, free vaccine will be provided to Year 10 students as part of the NSW School-based Vaccination Program from 2009.
For information on whooping cough see the whooping cough factsheet or call your local public health unit for further information
Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious infection that mainly affects young children, teenagers and young adults.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease may include a combination of:
- sudden onset of fever
- pin-prick rash changing to large red-purple blotches
- cold hands and feet
- sore joints and muscles
- nausea and vomiting
- headache
- neck stiffness
- dislike of bright lights
- tiredness
Babies and very young children may:
- be irritable
- have difficulty waking
- have a high-pitched cry
- refuse to eat.
A rash does not always appear and not all of the symptoms of meningococcal disease may be present at once. Anyone with these symptoms should seek immediate medical care as this can be life-saving.
Meningococcal vaccine was given to many school children from 2003 to 2005 and is now routinely given to babies at 12 months of age.
Even if you or your child have been vaccinated against meningococcal disease, it's important to be on the look out for symptoms because the vaccine does not cover all strains of the disease.
Free meningococcal C vaccine is still available from NSW general practitioners for any students who have not been vaccinated. If you are not sure if your child has been vaccinated, it's safe to repeat the vaccine.
For more detailed information on meningococcal disease see the meningococcal factsheet or call your local public health unit for further information