I think my 16 year old may have pertussis - Page 2

[Peony]

It isn't safe to send her back on monday even if she does feel better. Without antibiotics, you should consider her contagious for about 3 weeks (21 days) after the coughing has started. 

[Drummer's Wife]

I would not send her back to school, and I would go ahead and get the Dr.'s note.  It would be good to get a formal diagnosis, plus, I believe cases of pertussis should be reported to the health department, right?

It sucks to be sick and be bored of staying home and away from others, but it's not fair at all to subject students, teachers, mall patrons, or friends to such a contagious and potentially dangerous disease.

Hope she feels 100% better soon. 

[Peony]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife 

I would not send her back to school, and I would go ahead and get the Dr.'s note.  It would be good to get a formal diagnosis, plus, I believe cases of pertussis should be reported to the health department, right?

It sucks to be sick and be bored of staying home and away from others, but it's not fair at all to subject students, teachers, mall patrons, or friends to such a contagious and potentially dangerous disease.

Hope she feels 100% better soon. 

If the doc tests her and it is positive then yes, by law the office has to report it to the health dept. Which really isn't as bad as it sounds, when they called me they just asked a series of questions for their records, was the person vaxed, did they go to school, do we know anyone else with symptoms, etc... I actually work for the health dept now (oh the irony, a non-vaxer being a public health nurse!) and we really don't personally care what the family did or did not do (like vaxing) but it is all for statistics and data to show trends, monitor outbreaks, etc...