Five-week-old baby dies of whooping cough amid 137% surge in cases of ‘100-day cough’
Watch the video above to hear what whooping cough really sounds like, as cases surge across the UK - and scroll down to find out what to do if you're worried about your child's pesky cough
A FIVE-WEEK-OLD baby has died from whooping cough, public health officials have said.
Five British babies have died from the disease so far this year, as cases continue to surge across the country.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed there were 1,319 cases in March 2024.
This is a 44 per cent increase on the 918 cases in February and a 137 per cent rise on the 556 cases reported in January.
It is a massive surge from 858 cases and one death during the whole of 2023.
It comes after the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control confirmed this week there is an epidemic on the continent.
The death was noted at a meeting of Warwickshire’s health and wellbeing board, where concerns were discussed over the increase in cases nationally.
Figures from UKHSA show three cases in Rugby in the past week, seven in the past fortnight and 35 cases for the year up to May 4.
The illness, real name pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the lungs.
It spreads quickly between children and starts like a cold but may evolve into a bad, long-lasting cough – which is why it is sometimes nicknamed the ‘100-day-cough’.
The UKHSA said the bug peaks every three to five years, and the last spike in the UK was in 2016.
Dr Shade Agboola, Warwickshire’s director of public health told the meeting: “We have been busy in the health protection space in the past couple of weeks.
“The information out there in the media around pertussis, whooping cough, and the increase in the number of cases has unfortunately impacted us.
“We had a death from pertussis a couple of weeks ago in a five-week-old baby in Rugby.
“We are working closely with the UK Health Security Agency to come up with a range of actions to support that particular community where the death has happened.”
What to do if your child is coughing
By Isabel Shaw, health reporter
A child’s cough can sound terrible, so understandably, you might be concerned if you catch your little one suffering.
But most coughs aren’t usually a sign of anything serious.
In fact, a cough is a healthy reflex that clears fluid from the throat and chest.
They happen when nerve endings in those airways get irritated, usually from a virus or an allergen.
With the UK facing a whooping cough outbreak, new Covid strains circulating and pollen levels set to rise over the coming days, there’s a chance one of the above could be behind your child’s cough.
There’s usually no need to see a GP if your child has a cough.
A pharmacist can help give you advice or advice on medicines to take, which can ease the symptoms.
But some coughs are more serious than others and require further help.
If you notice your little one making a ‘whoop’ sound when they cough or have back-to-back coughing fits, they could have a whooping cough.
Call your doctor right away if you suspect whooping cough.
It usually requires antibiotic treatment, and some kids may need to be treated in a hospital.
You should also visit your GP if your child’s cough has lasted three weeks and is losing weight for no reason.
Call NHS 111 if the coughing is very bad, your child is struggling to breathe, has neck or chest pain, or is coughing up blood
Meanwhile, the UK faces a critical shortage of whooping cough antibiotics clarithromycin, believed to be driven by the surge in cases.
The antibiotics may not relieve symptoms, the drugs can stop the infection from spreading to others.
Get vaccinated
Experts say the rise in cases could be down to a fall in vaccination uptake.
Pregnant women can get a free vaccine that gives their baby 92 per cent protection from birth.
Tots’ immunity is then topped up with the six-in-one NHS jab at eight, 12 and 16 weeks old with a booster at age three.
Eighty per cent of infant deaths since 2012 – 21 out of 26 – were in babies born to unvaccinated mothers.
NHS medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, added: “It is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.”
Just 61 per cent of pregnant women in England were vaccinated in 2023, down from 71 per cent in 2020.
Nationwide Covid-19 lockdowns also played their role, meaning people have been left with less immunity to the illness.
In response to spiralling cases across the country, several GP surgeries have asked their patients to come to appointments wearing masks.
Full list of symptoms of whooping cough
WHOOPING cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
The first signs of the condition tend to be similar to a cold – such as a runny nose, a sore throat, red and watery eyes, and a slightly raised temperature.
After about a week, other signs start to appear. These include:
- Coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night
- “Whoop” sounds as your gasp for breath between coughs
- Difficulty breathing after a coughing bout
- Turning blue or grey (children)
- Becoming very red in the face (adults)
- Bringing up thick mucus, which can make you vomit
- Bleeding under the skin or in the eyes
- Feeling very tired after coughing
The cough may last several weeks or months.
Babies under six months have an increased risk of problems such as dehydration, breathing problems, pneumonia and seizures.
Older children and adults may experience sore ribs, hernia, middle ear infections, and urinary incontinence.
Source: NHS