Highly contagious ‘100-day cough’ sweeping across the UK

A highly contagious illness with a long lasting cough is said to be spreading across the country with a 250% increase in cases.

Experts have warned people to watch out for the disease, that starts with symptoms similar to a cold, after seeing a 250% increase in cases across the UK.

The highly infectious bacterial infection leaves sufferers with lasting symptoms including a cough that lingers for two or three months.

The whooping cough (pertussis), also known as the 100-day cough, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it’s marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like ‘whoop’. 

The outbreak has seen three times as many cases this year compared to last year and in the last five months there have been 716 cases reported to health authorities.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam from the UK Health Security Agency told The Sun that this rise was ‘expected’. 

Dr Amirthalingam explained how social distancing and lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic had significantly impacted the spread of infections, including whooping cough.

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.”

The Whooping Cough spreads easily and can sometimes cause serious problems, which is why vaccination against it is crucial for babies and children. Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease.

The NHS explains that the first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat (a high temperature is uncommon).

But then after about a week, you or your child might experience coughing fits that last for a few minutes, are worse at night and may make a ‘whoop’ sound a gasp for breath between coughs. Though young babies and some adults may not ‘whoop’. 

After a coughing bout, the patient may struggle to breathe and could turn blue or grey (especially young infants), and they may bring up thick mucus, which can cause vomiting.

The cough may also be so hard that in some cases it can cause vomiting, rib fractures, and fatigue. Globally, in 2015, pertussis resulted in 58,700 deaths – down from 138,000 deaths in 1990.

Once infected with whooping cough, signs and symptoms may take a week to ten days to appear. It may start off similar to a cold with developing symptoms that include:

• Nasal congestion
• A runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• A cough
• A fever

The NHS adds that the patient’s face may become very red. If your baby is under six months old and shows symptoms of whooping cough, or if you or your child have a severe cough that is getting worse, or if you’ve been in contact with someone with whooping cough and you’re pregnant, you should seek an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.

You should also call 111 if you or your child has been in contact with someone with whooping cough and have a weakened immune system.