Whooping cough

Whooping cough breaks out in Wright Co.


WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, has been confirmed in more than 40 people in the Maple Lake area along with a few cases in Annandale and Monticello, according to Wright County Public Health.

Most of the diagnosed cases are in elementary school age children, but younger children and adults have been affected.

In recent years, more cases of pertussis have been reported in adults and children. Since pertussis may be milder in adults and older children, they can pass on the disease without knowing it. The risk to infants and elderly is the greatest, however, even in adolescents and adults a pertussis infection can lead to pneumonia or even rib fractures from coughing.

Pertussis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Droplets are produced in the air but don’t travel far. They usually only infect persons near by.

Pertussis usually starts out with symptoms similar to a cold, such as sneezing, cough, low-grade fever, and runny nose. A fever isn’t always present. The cough tends to be worse at night and over time can become severe lasting weeks or months.

Pertussis should be considered when:

• A cough illness occurs after a direct exposure to pertussis.
• A persistent cough of unknown origin lasts more than 7 days
• A violent cough occurs with a whooping sound, vomiting/gagging while coughing or inability to catch one’s breath while coughing

Persons with pertussis should stay home and not go to school, work, or attend other activities until they have finished 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Even with treatment the cough can continue for a long time. Treatment does not make the cough go away completely but will help prevent the spread of pertussis

Anyone who has been coughing for seven days or longer and has had contact with someone with pertussis should discuss pertussis with their medical provider

Most children have been vaccinated for pertussis, however, protection decreases over time. Studies have shown that the immunity from this particular vaccine decreases after 3-5 years from the last vaccination, which is usually given before kindergarten. Therefore, most adolescents and adults are at risk for pertussis

The current outbreak highlights the need for the Tdap booster vaccine in adults and adolescents. The Tdap vaccine is a combination of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Current recommendations during an outbreak are to:

• Give Tdap to children ages 10-12 now instead of waiting until these children enter 7th grade when the next booster is due.
• Give Tdap to adolescents and adults up to age 64 who have not received a Tdap before and it has been 2 years since receiving Td (tetanus shot).

Currently there is no licensed pertussis vaccine for people 65 years and older

The Wright County WOW Van is making an extra stop in Maple Lake on April 30 from 1-4 pm in the parking area of St. Timothy’s Church. People who don’t have insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover vaccine costs can attend this clinic. There is a $10.00 administration fee. No one is turned away for inability to pay.

The WOW Van schedule for all locations in the county can be found on the county website at www.co.wright.mn.us with a link on the right side of the homepage. Calls for information can be made to the Vaccine Information Line at 763-684-2335.

Another FREE thing.....

The Home Depot is giving away a free faucet aerator to the first 250 customers in the store tomorrow Sunday, April 18th. There theme this year is water conservation. They will also be having clinics to show how to conserve water. Look in your ad for some great coupons coming out to help celebrate.

Thomas and Friends

Join Toys R Us Saturday, April 17, 11am-1pm, for a Thomas Play Date! There will be storytime, coloring, special offers and FREE items!! Find a Toys R Us near you.


While you are there, use this coupon to save $5 on Mega Blocks Thomas and Friends Busy Day at the Quarry playset! Good Saturday Only!


Hope to see you there!!

Sad....

We took daddy (husband) to the airport today.   This is always the tough part - the next 24 hours.  It's an eighteen hour flight, then time to get to the hotel, etc.....it's usually almost exactly 24 hours after we drop him off.  It's always rough on me but this time was even more difficult as the 2 1/2 year old wanted to know why she couldn't go with daddy.   Poor kid.   She whimpered for a good 10 minutes and it breaks my heart.  That's when I really wonder when do we learn the concept of time?!?  For my 8 1/2 month old, he may notice daddy's gone, but will he comprehend how long it's been?   Probably not.  But my smart little 2 1/2 year old - does a week feel like a week to her?!?  I have NO idea! 
If you've tried to contact me today.....know these things. 1) If it weren't for my kids, I'd be sleeping away the next 24 hours so don't take it personally. 2) I'm not trying to ignore anyone, I'm just really not in a social mood - it happens everytime he leaves for China. 3) If I have responded - consider yourselves lucky....I must really like you :D  It's just how I cope with the worry of not hearing from him for 24 hours. 
At least we'll be keeping busy for most of the time.  Tomorrow, my daughter and I are having "date night" (Race track - weather permitting!) while my cousin and her husband are getting a refresher course since they are due in September and their daughter is almost 6 :)  with the baby.  Good luck to them!  We will probably be heading over there late afternoon so the girls can play, the baby gets used to them and we have some chatting time with big people :)  YAY! If the weather doesn't allow us to do the races, we'll find something else to do-just the two of us since her one on one time will really be diminished over the next week. 
Sunday, I am doing a Tupperware party for my SIL (not officially SIL, but close enough!) .   That should be fun!  Sounds like she's got a fair amount of yes RSVP's so I'm looking forward to that time too.   Hopefully the kids can stay with Grandpa or Uncles (if any of you read this.... ;-) ) and maybe even see Big Brother!   That would be a treat for the 2 1/2 year old :D
Monday, I'm HOPING to start the 3 day potty training technique.   If you've used this, can you let me knwo if it works?   She does pretty good with the peeing on the potty except she doesn't tell us when she has to go.   Pooping....forget it.   She's done it a few times and it's always a fight.   I'm hoping this works....I'd like to have a potty trained little girl before Daddy comes home!  We won't be going much of anywhere for the week from the sounds of it (I'm not locking us all in the house or anything......)

Frustrated....

That seems to be the theme of my life lately.  Everything is frustrating me more then it probably should....everyone, whatever :)  It's not one person either - it's like all of a sudden everything/everyone is forgetting about me....
Nothing major going on...just life.  But I seem to be a bit on edge or something.  I'm tired of doubting everything and everyone.   Sometimes I feel like no one really knows or remembers what it's like to stay at home with two kids.   There's a reason stay at home parents are underpaid and overworked.............
Don't get me wrong - I LOVE MY JOB :D   I just wish sometimes people would remember that I don't get to leave the house everyday without two kids attached to me.   My priorities have changed, that's for sure, since meeting my husband and having my two kids.   However, that doesn't mean I'm not available to do things with friends (or people I thought were friends).... It's ridiculous the lack of time people have for their friends that are parents now.  Sorry I can't go out every night (or even every weekend)....it's not even that I can't - most of the time I choose not to go out.... but once in awhile it doesn't hurt to ask :)  Just because I have an opinion that differs from yours about "extra curricular" activities you and your "friends" engage in, doesn't mean that I don't respect OUR friendship and what it used to be.... 
That's all I can say..... on that topic ;-)