SAN DIEGO -- A 10-year-old student at a Tierrasanta elementary school has been diagnosed with whooping cough, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced Wednesday.

The child attends Kumeyaay Elementary School and was involved in a Christian Youth Theater Group production in May, according to the HHSA.

"Whooping cough is very active this season and is highly contagious," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"If children are having severe coughing spells, especially after having flu-like symptoms, parents should ask their primary care physician to test their children for whooping cough," she said.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, usually starts with flu-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, fever and mild cough. The symptoms may be mild and brief, or last up to two weeks, but are often followed by severe coughing fits that may be associated with vomiting.

There were 51 cases of whopping cough reported in the county last year. So far this year, there have been 42 cases.