Bartlesville Public Schools Impacted By Several Cases Of Whooping Cough

Bartlesville Public Schools says all of its campuses have been impacted by the spread of whooping cough. A Green Country doctor says there is a spike in cases around the state this year.

Classes are still happening in Bartlesville, but the district wants families to be aware and keep their children home if they start feeling sick.

The district says there has been at least one case at the high school, one case at each of the six elementary schools and seven cases at the middle schools.

“Given the number and spread of cases and how symptoms can take days or even weeks to develop, we escalated from contacting parents of students in affected classes to notifying all parents,” said a district spokesperson.

Doctors say whooping cough can start with cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose.

“In adults, it’s really uncomfortable,” said Dr. Theresa Horton, a pediatrician with Utica Park Clinic. “It can last six to eight weeks. It’s a cough that’s so hard it can break your ribs.”

Horton says cases around the state are higher this year.

“We haven’t seen anything like this in six or seven years, I believe,” said Horton.

The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control show Oklahoma is dealing with 32 cases of whooping cough. The CDC reports a big increase of 114 total cases in Oklahoma in the last year.

Horton thinks a decline in vaccinations is a contributor to the spike. She says babies have the biggest risk, but children and adults can also get it, even if they have had the vaccine to prevent it.

“We got behind in a lot of immunizations over COVID because people were just avoiding coming into health care and the immunizations were not done,” said Horton.

Horton encourages parents to get their children vaccinated for whooping cough, saying symptoms could be more mild if they do get it. Bartlesville Schools is asking parents to keep their children home and take them to the doctor if they develop a cough.

What Is Whooping Cough?

Cause: Whooping cough, medically known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, according to the CDC.

Symptoms:

1. Starts with cold-like symptoms (runny nose, mild cough, fever).
2. Progresses to severe coughing fits, often followed by a “whooping” sound when inhaling.
3. Can lead to vomiting, exhaustion, and in severe cases, complications like pneumonia.

Transmission:

1. Spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
2. Close contact with an infected person increases the risk of transmission.

Risk Groups:

1. Particularly dangerous for infants, who may require hospitalization.
2. Older children, adults, and those with weakened immune systems can also be affected but generally have milder symptoms.

Prevention:

1. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent whooping cough. The DTaP vaccine is recommended for infants and children, while the Tdap booster is for adolescents and adults.

Treatment:

1. Early treatment with antibiotics can reduce the severity and duration of the illness.
2. Supportive care, like staying hydrated and resting, is also important.

Complications:

1. Infants are at higher risk for serious complications such as brain damage or even death if left untreated.