A student at Buchtel Community Learning Center was recently diagnosed with whooping cough, according to an Akron Public Schools official.
Stacey Hodoh, director of strategic communications for APS, said a student was diagnosed Dec. 13. The student was out of school for five days and was expected to return Thursday.
Cases are on the rise in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Across the country, 509 cases were reported for the week ending Dec. 14, which is the most recent data from the CDC. Of those, 12 cases were in Ohio.
For the same week last year, there were 137 cases in the United States and 30 in Ohio.
Here’s what you need to know about whooping cough and how to keep yourself and your family members safe.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a common respiratory illness.
What are the symptoms?
Its symptoms are often similar to those of the common cold, including a runny nose, cough and slight fever. The cough typically worsens and becomes more persistent in a week to 10 days, said Dr. Erika Sobolewski, medical director for Summit County Public Health.
The common name comes from the noise people make when gasping for air after a coughing episode. In some cases, Sobolewski said, the coughing can be severe enough to induce vomiting or fracture a rib.
What’s the treatment?
Antibiotics to treat whooping cough are available. It’s best to treat the illness early on, according to the CDC. Sobolewski recommended people stay home if they are sick and cover their cough.
How common is whooping cough?
When asked about the prevalence of whooping cough, Sobolewski said it’s not “uncommon” for the illness to be reported. “This isn’t something new and scary. We’re just seeing this with so many respiratory illnesses as we return to prepandemic [levels],” she said.
There were eight cases in Summit County in 2022 and eight in 2023. As of November, Sobolewski said there have been 17 cases in the county.
“If we go back to ’18 and ’19, we have 77 and 52 cases, respectively,” she added.
Sobolewski also attributed the rise in cases to vaccine reluctance and people not staying up to date on their immunizations.
How is it spread?
Whooping cough is easily spread through the air by coughing and sneezing, making places like schools breeding grounds.
“If you’re sitting in a classroom next to people not covering [their] cough and those types of things, things tend to spread more vigorously,” she said.
Who’s at risk?
Babies younger than one year are most at risk of getting whooping cough, said Sobolewski. The CDC notes that people with pre-existing medical conditions are also at risk.
How to prevent whooping cough
The CDC recommends everyone get vaccinated for whooping cough. It’s also recommended that people get a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) booster shot every 10 years as protection wanes over time.
It is still possible for vaccinated people to get whooping cough, but the symptoms are often less severe, Sobolewski said.
The vaccination is available at Summit County Public Health (1867 W. Market St.). Patients can schedule an appointment online or by calling 330-375-2772.
Sobolewski encouraged people with questions or concerns about the vaccination to contact their primary care provider.
