Parents warned about whooping cough after youngster at child care centre diagnosed with illness

Parents are being urged to be on the lookout for symptoms of whooping cough (or pertussis) after a child at a Blairmount child care centre was diagnosed with the illness.

Health experts say immuisation is the best way to control whooping cough.

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PARENTS are being urged to be on the lookout for symptoms of whooping cough (or pertussis) after a child at a Blairmount child care centre was diagnosed with the illness.

Parents at Blairmount Kids received a precautionary letter from NSW Health advising them about the situation and urging them to monitor their child for symtoms. Blairmount Kids director Haylee Heffernan said the child, who was fully immunised, contracted whooping cough after playing with a cousin on the previous weekend.

“When the child’s mother found about whooping cough, she took her child to a doctor for a swab (test),’’ Ms Heffernan said.

“The test came back positive and she phoned us on Monday to tell us about it and that her child would not be coming in.’’

South Western Sydney Local Health District public health director Dr Stephen Conaty recommends a booster dose of adult whooping cough vaccine for parents, grandparents and carers.

Whooping cough cases have also been reported at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School and in the Camden area this year.

South Western Sydney Local Health District public health director Dr Stephen Conaty said immunisation was the best way to control whooping cough and it was recommended for all pregnant women during the third trimester as well as to children at two, four, six, 18 months and at four years.

Children are vaccinated at age two, four, six and 18 months and at four years of age.

“The effectiveness of the vaccine against whooping cough wanes over time and booster doses are needed to ensure full protection,’’ he said. Whooping cough is spread through coughing, sneezing or close contact with the infected person.

Symptoms may include a runny nose, slight fever, tiredness, diarrhoea and a crowing cough.

There were 1001 cases of pertussis reported in the south west region, which includes the Macarthur area, last year.