Parents are being urged to remain vigilant
Parents are being urged to listen out for the tell-tale sign of a potentially fatal cough. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a stark audio clip of the rasping, gasping noise made by those suffering from the cough, cautioning the condition can start like an ordinary cold before becoming serious.
The sound parents are being advised to recognise can be heard on the post below. Health officials say the infection typically begins with mild symptoms such as a runny nose and low fever – before developing into severe coughing bouts.
These episodes can persist for several minutes and may cause vomiting, with some sufferers producing the characteristic “whoop” as they struggle for air. UKHSA cautioned: “Whooping cough can start like a cold. The ‘whoop’ is distinctive, although some babies and adults don’t make the classic sound.”
Official figures reveal there was a sharp rise in cases in 2024, since when numbers have declined. However, the watchdog emphasised it is crucial that parents stay alert.
Why experts are concerned
Despite the reduction in cases, doctors caution the danger remains – especially for the youngest children. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, transmits readily and targets the lungs and airways.
Babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated are at greatest risk, with dangers including:
- Breathing pauses (apnoea)
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- In rare cases, death
The illness is sometimes referred to as the “100-day cough” due to the lengthy duration of its symptoms.
Adults may be spreading it without realising
Experts warn that older children and adults frequently experience milder symptoms – but can unknowingly pass the infection on.
In some cases, weeks of relentless coughing can result in rib injuries, hernias or burst blood vessels in the eyes.
The key protection parents are urged not to miss
Health officials emphasise that vaccination remains the strongest line of defence.
In the UK:
- Babies receive doses at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
- A booster follows in early childhood
- A new 18-month dose is being introduced for children born from July 2024
- Pregnant women are advised to get vaccinated from around 20 weeks
Vaccination during pregnancy is more than 90% effective at preventing deaths in young babies, as protection is passed on before birth.
A disease that comes in cycles
Whooping cough typically peaks every three to five years, with previous surges recorded in 2012 and 2016.
Experts suggest the 2024 outbreak was partly driven by reduced social mixing during the pandemic, followed by a rebound as normal life resumed. More details can be found here.
Source link
