Confirmed Case of Whooping Cough at Riverhead High School

A student at has been diagnosed with pertussis, or whooping cough, according to a statement on the district's website on Friday. The student has no siblings within the district and custodians are taking extra precautions while cleaning the High School, the statement said.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that begins with cold-like symptoms and progresses to severe coughing after one to two weeks. The disease is treated with antibiotics.

Early symptoms include:

• Low-grade fever
• Mild, occasional cough
• Runny nose
• Sleep Apnea (in infants)

Later symptoms are:

• Coughing fits
• Exhaustion
• Vomiting

In October, Suffolk County Health Department Commissioner said Dr. James Tomarken the number of  cases have more than tripled this year compared to 2010, and cautioned residents about the , which could, in severe cases, prove to be fatal.

“In order to contain the spread of infection, we ask health care providers to consider pertussis as a possible diagnosis when patients present with cold-like symptoms and a dry cough,” Tomarken said. “Early detection and appropriate antibiotic treatment is the key to minimizing symptoms and containing the spread of the infection.”

The county health department reported over 200 incidents of pertussis this year, compared to just 54 last year and 75 in 2009.

Parents and physicians who have questions about pertussis can contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055.