Whooping cough cases approach near record numbers

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Holiday cheer is in the air, and so are infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whooping cough cases in the United States are beginning to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Whooping cough is often referred to as pertussis. According to Nationwide Children's Hospital's Chief of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Jason Newland, there are over 32,000 recorded cases this year alone in the U.S. which is six times greater than last year.

Dr. Newland said they're also noticing a spike in cases across the state. 

"In Ohio, we're double the amount of last year at 1600 cases reported," he said.

Dr. Newland said whooping cough often presents similar symptoms as the common cold. This can include fever, runny nose, and eventually an aggressive cough. 

"The difference is the cough can come in paroxysms, but the better word for it is just a lot at one time to where we hear that we say whoop because you cough, cough, cough, cough, cough and then you go whoop because you've got to breathe," he said.

Dr. Newland said the whooping cough vaccination is the best way to prevent it starting at two months old. 

"And then because the vaccine is not perfect, meaning it doesn't provide me protection the rest of my life, you really need to get it every ten years," Dr. Newland said.

Dr. Newland said the problem they're seeing is less people are getting vaccinated.

"You and I, we get pertussis, we're going to cough, and we're going to cough a lot, and we might cough 100 days, and we might cough so much we break a rib, or we cough so much that we want to vomit, all terrible things which is why I want my vaccine," Dr. Newland said.

According to Dr. Newland, the most susceptible group is infants.

"They can come to the hospital not breathing," Dr. Newland said. "They can have neurologic conditions making them seize and they can die."

This is why as you gather for the holidays, Dr. Newland recommends taking proper precautions. 

"You can always wear a mask to prevent things like pertussis, things like RSV, things like influenza," Dr. Newland said. "Influenza's rip roaring right now. All of these things you do and let's not forget washing our hands, you can use distance. We learned these things during the pandemic. We can keep doing that to protect us against pertussis and all of these respiratory illnesses."

Dr. Newland said treatment is simple, but whooping cough is an airborne disease which makes it highly contagious. 

"If we all get vaccinated that are going to be around the youngest and most vulnerable, we help protect them even more," Dr. Newland said. "So, having 30,000 cases is scary because you know there's some infants in that and you're putting others at risk."

Whooping cough is also often referred to as the 100-day cough because it can last for weeks or months.