Whooping Cough / Coup

Cause/Symptoms: Bacteria. Repeated bouts of violent coughing, which may end with a high-pitched inspiratory whoop and/or vomiting. May last 1 to 2 months.

Transmission: Person to person by direct contact with respiratory secretions.

Incubation: 5 to 21 days, usually 7 to 10 days

Period of Communicability: Until 3 weeks after onset of symptoms or until 5 days of antibiotic treatment is completed.

Your child can return to daycare once all the following criteria have been meet:

With treatment
~Vomiting

• 24 hours from the time the vomit reducing medication (such as, Gravel) are out of your child system (8 to 10 hours after taking last dose) and vomiting has not restarted
  
• 24 hours free of any vomit reducing medication or any other medication that can mask symptoms of illness.
  
• If no medication is given: 24 hours starting one (1) hour after the last time your child vomited.
  

~ 48 hours after a five (5) day treatment of antibiotics
~ Your child can eat and drink normally
~ Your child can participate in all daycare activities
~ your child's coughing will not keep your child or the other children up during nap time

Without Treatment
~ three (3) weeks at home or longer
~ cough is 100% gone
~Vomiting

• 24 hours from the time the vomit reducing medication (such as, Gravel) are out of your child system (8 to 10 hours after taking last dose) and vomiting has not restarted
• 24 hours free of any vomit reducing medication or any other medication that can mask symptoms of illness.
• If no medication is given: 24 hours starting one (1) hour after the last time your child vomited.

~ Your child can eat and drink normally
~ Your child can participate in all daycare activities


Your child WILL be home seven (7) days or longer, with treatment
Your child WILL be home three (3) weeks or longer, with no treatment