More cases of the highly contagious ‘100 day cough’ have been identified in the UK, prompting health officials to issue yet another warning.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can be mistaken for an ordinary cold, but its symptoms can continue for months.
A runny nose and sore throat are common symptoms of a bacterial infection, before persistent coughs with a ‘whoop’ sound take hold and endure for weeks or months.
Cases of the contagious cough were reported earlier this month in the United Kingdom, but further reports from Devon and Cornwall have now been disclosed.
716 cases have been reported in the last five months, a whopping 230% higher than this time last year.
The London borough of Hackney has seen the most cases by far, at 77, followed by Wirral with 35, and Birmingham and Leeds with 30 each – prompting doctors to issue a warning to pregnant women.
After about a week of a runny nose and sore throat, patients often suffer:
- coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night
- a ‘whoop’ sound – a gasp for breath between coughs
- difficulty breathing after a coughing bout and young infants may turn blue or grey
- a thick mucus, which can make you vomit
- becoming very red in the face (more common in adults)
Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, but not all symptoms may improve.
‘Anyone can be infected if they inhale the bacteria, but the main people who are under risk are children and pregnant women.’ said Dr Manal Mohammed, an infectious diseases professor at Westminster University.
‘Most of us, if we have a strong immune system, can cope. But it’s very important that we ensure children get the vaccine, and pregnant women get vaccinated.’
The cough has spread throughout Europe, with lines forming outside a health centre in Zagreb, Croatia, to get checked for whooping cough.
According to the NHS, whooping cough can cause severe illness in young newborns, and in severe cases, they can die.
When to call your GP for whooping cough
According to the NHS, ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 11 if:
- Your baby is under 6 months old and has symptoms of whooping cough
- You or your child have a very bad cough that is getting worse
- You’ve been in contact with someone with whooping cough and you’re pregnant
- You or your child has been in contact with someone with whooping cough and have a weakened immune system