TN school system notified of multiple whooping cough cases

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Rutherford County School (RCS) system alerted parents of one of its high schools to a student case of whooping cough this week.

In a letter to Oakland High School’s parents, RCS shared that the Rutherford County Health Department reported a confirmed case of whooping cough (pertussis).

RCS shared with parents that the health department reported an increase in whooping cough cases throughout the region.

“The health department says pertussis has become more common throughout the state (and others) and so we have had more than one case reported to us this year,” RCS shared in a statement to WSMV4 on Wednesday. “We always send out a notice to parents so they are aware. We currently have been notified of three cases at different schools this week.”

Parents,

We have been notified by the Rutherford County Health Department of a confirmed case of pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough.

The health department reports there has been an increase in whooping cough cases regionally.

We have not been notified of the child’s identity or grade level, and we don’t expect to be given those details. However, the health department has asked us to send a notice to parents so they can be on the lookout for symptoms.

Whooping Cough is a very contagious respiratory illness typically covered by your child’s routine school vaccinations. It begins like a common cold but unlike a cold, the coughing can last for weeks or months.

Later symptoms include severe coughing fits with a high-pitched “whoop” sound when inhaling after coughing. Other symptoms include vomiting after coughing, increased fatigue, and struggling to breathe.

It’s very important to treat whooping cough early, before coughing fits begin. Healthcare providers generally treat whooping cough with antibiotics, which may make the infection less serious.

If your child has any symptoms of whooping cough, please contact your healthcare provider.

In November 2024, WSMV4′s Dryden Quigley reported that the CDC said that Tennessee had more than three times the number of whooping cough cases this year than it did this time in 2023.

The Metro Public Health Department said prevention is key when it comes to respiratory illnesses like whooping cough, which is a contagious bacterial disease.