34 NLR students treated after whooping cough contact

Thirty-four students were treated against whooping cough after a single case was reported at a local middle school, North Little Rock School District officials said Thursday.

North Little Rock School District Superintendent Kelley Rodgers said he was alerted about the case at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, and a letter went out to parents of Lakewood Middle School students a little after 5 p.m.

Students who had close contact with the infected student were alerted that they may need preventive treatment, Rhonda Colquitt of the superintendent's office said in a news release.

Amanda Stuckey, nursing supervisor for the district, said symptoms for whooping cough, or pertussis, include coughing to the point of passing out or vomiting, some upper respiratory symptoms and sometimes a fever.

“There is always a severe cough,” Stuckey said.

Stuckey said the student who was sick is already feeling better and had been vaccinated for whooping cough before getting sick.

Most students receive four whooping cough vaccinations before kindergarten, and the sickness is not as severe for those who have received the vaccine, Stuckey said.

Students who believe they may have had contact with someone who has had whooping cough should contact their physicians, the district said.

Parents or students with questions are asked to call the North Little Rock Health Unit at (501) 791-8552.

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