Surge in ‘100-day cough’ UK cases confirmed as urgent health warning issued

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The UK is witnessing a surge in cases of whooping cough, also known as the '100-day-cough' or pertussis, as women are urged to get vaccinated.

The illness can be easily mistaken for a common cold in its early stages, with symptoms like a runny nose and sore throat, according to NHS guidelines, via The Mirror.

As the infection progresses, sufferers experience severe coughing fits that last several minutes and worsen at night. They may also make a distinctive "whoop" sound as they gasp for breath between coughing bouts. Alarmingly, these symptoms can persist for weeks or even months.

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So far in 2023, there have been 1,141 reported cases of whooping cough in the UK, marking a 26% increase compared to the combined total of the previous two years. Cases have been reported in Devon and Cornwall, according to PlymouthLive.

Prof Helen Bedford, a child public health expert at University College London, warned: "As expected, we are now seeing cases of whooping cough increase again, so it's vital pregnant women ensure they get vaccinated to protect their baby.

"Whooping cough in young babies can be very serious and vaccinating their mothers in pregnancy is the only way of ensuring they are protected in the first few months."

An interactive map revealed earlier this week the areas most affected by a recent infection surge. Since summer began, cases have tripled, with 716 reported in the last five months – a whopping 230% increase compared to the same period in 2022.

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The UK Health Security Agency reports that Hackney in London has seen the highest number of cases in England and Wales this year, with 77.

Following Hackney are Wirral in Merseyside (35 cases), Leeds (30) and Birmingham (30). In terms of population, Hackney also has the highest rate of cases per 100,000 people at 29.6, followed by Gateshead (13.2) and Wirral (10.9).

However, not all areas have been hit by Whooping Cough – nearly a third of over 300 local authority areas monitored by the UKHSA haven't identified a single case yet.

The NHS warns that whooping cough can be dangerous, particularly for children under six-months-old who may experience dehydration, breathing difficulties, pneumonia and seizures.

For older children and adults, it can cause issues like sore ribs, hernias, ear infections and incontinence while coughing. Symptoms usually develop over a week and if your baby under six months starts showing signs of whooping cough, you should contact a doctor immediately.

Five key symptoms of whooping cough to watch out for:

1. Coughing bouts lasting for a few minutes and are worse at night.
2. Coughs that make a "whoop" sound a gasp for breath between coughs
3. Difficulty breathing after coughs, which could lead to turning blue or grey in young infants
4. Bringing up a thick mucus, which can lead to vomiting
5. Turning very red in the face

* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up Daily Star's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]

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