UK ‘100 Day Cough’; Severe in children; Health Department with warning

A serious lung infection known as whooping cough is spreading across England and Wales. The number of people suffering from this disease is increasing day by day. Also known as whooping cough, this contagious disease is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs and respiratory tract. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported a 230 percent increase in outbreaks this year compared to last year.

Between July and November this year, 716 cases of whooping cough have been reported. This is three times the number of cases reported during the same period in 2022. The disease is officially known as pertussis. The World Health Organization states that it can become very serious in newborns. The organization also states that the disease is contagious for about three weeks after the onset of coughing.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms begin to appear within seven to ten days of infection. Symptoms include low-grade fever, sore throat, runny nose, and cough. Gradually it progresses to a severe cough. The cough lasts for a long time and sometimes continues for weeks or even months.

Some people experience pain between the ribs when coughing. It can also cause hernia in some isolated cases. Some reports also suggest that it can lead to ear infections and urinary incontinence. Cough affects people of all ages. It is usually not serious.

But this disease can seriously affect children and newborns. It can also cause pneumonia, respiratory distress and seizure-like conditions in children under six months of age. The government is encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated against it. It protects babies from birth. Meanwhile, small babies are given three doses of the vaccine at eight, 12 and 16 weeks. In the 1950s, a vaccine against whooping cough was developed. Subsequently, a large reduction in the number of cases was recorded.

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• First Published : December 12, 2023, 1:49 pm IST

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