100-day whooping cough symptoms and how to prevent it as five babies die and cases rise

Five babies have died after being diagnosed with whooping cough amid a surge in cases in England. Here, the PA news agency answers frequently asked questions about the condition.

What is whooping cough?

The bacterial infection, also known as pertussis, affects the lungs and breathing tubes. Whooping cough is sometimes called the “100-day cough” because of how long it can take to recover and it spreads very easily.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold and can include a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing fits that last several minutes and are usually worse at night. Young babies may also make a distinctive “whoop” or have trouble breathing after a coughing fit, although not all babies make this noise.

Who is most affected?

Most cases (51%) were diagnosed among people aged 15 and over, but the condition is most severe in babies. Between January and the end of March, 108 babies under the age of three months were diagnosed with whooping cough.

How many cases were there?

There were 2,793 cases reported between January and the end of March, according to figures from the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA). In March alone, approximately 1,319 cases were reported. 556 cases were registered in January and 918 in February.

How does this compare to previous years?

There were 858 cases for the whole year 2023.

Why are the cases so high?

Health officials at the UKHSA describe whooping cough as a ‘cyclical disease’, meaning it peaks every few years. In whooping cough, this peak usually occurs every three to five years. The last big increase was seen in 2016.

But cases have fallen to very low numbers during the coronavirus pandemic – possibly due to a lack of socializing and social distancing measures – meaning the current peak is “overdue”, the UKHSA said. It added that the impact of the pandemic means there is “reduced immunity in the population”. Vaccination rates have also declined in recent years.

What can people do to protect themselves?

Pregnant women are urged to take up the pertussis vaccine offer so they can pass on protection to their babies, which should last until they are old enough to get vaccinated. Parents are also advised to accept the offer of vaccination for children when requested.

When can people get vaccinated?

The NHS recommends that all pregnant women should be vaccinated against whooping cough between 16 and 32 weeks. When a baby is eight weeks old, they are given the six-in-one vaccine, which includes immunization against whooping cough.

The second dose of vaccine is given at 12 weeks and the third is given at 16 weeks. When children are three years and four months old, they will be given the four-in-one preschool booster, which protects against pertussis.