New cases of 100-day cough confirmed as UK experts issue urgent health warning
Yet more cases of whooping cough have been confirmed as the number of patients continues to soar.
Also called the 100-day-cough - and scientifically known as pertussis - it is easily mistaken for a cold in its early stages, according to the . Sufferers start with a runny nose and as the infection takes hold before other symptoms begin to show. These include coughs which last several minutes and worsen at night and a tell-tale “whoop” sound as people gasp between bouts and, concerningly, may last weeks or even months.
So far in 2023, health authorities in the UK have received notifications of 1,141 cases of whooping cough. That number is 26 per cent higher than the previous two years combined.
They include reports in Devon and Cornwall, reports PlymouthLive. Prof Helen Bedford, an expert in child public health at University College London, said: "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.”
Earlier this week an interactive map showed the areas which have been hit the hardest by the infection. Since the start of summer, infections have more than trebled, with 716 cases reported in the last five months, 230% higher than in the same period of 2022. According to the UK Health Security Agency, the London borough of Hackney has seen more cases than anywhere else in England and Wales so far this year, with 77.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
Hackney is followed by Wirral in Merseyside (35 cases) and then Leeds (30) and Birmingham (30). When compared to the population Hackney also has the highest rate of cases per 100,000 population with 29.6, followed by Gateshead (13.2) and Wirral (10.9). Not everywhere has seen the spread of Whooping Cough - nearly a third of more than 300 local authority areas monitored by the UKHSA have yet to identify a single case.
According to the , whopping coughs can be dangerous, especially for children under six months old who can suffer dehydration, trouble breathing, pneumonia and seizures. In older children and adults, they can cause problems including sore ribs, hernias, ear infections and incontinence while coughing. Symptoms usually develop for around one week and If you have a baby that's under six months old who's started to develop whooping cough symptoms, you should speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
Five key symptoms of whooping cough to look out for
Coughing bouts lasting for a few minutes and are worse at night
Coughs that make a "whoop" sound – a gasp for breath between coughs
Difficulty breathing after coughs, which could lead to turning blue or grey in young infants
Bringing up a thick mucus, which can lead to vomiting
Turning very red in the face
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
