Parents are being urged to listen out for the tell-tale sign of a potentially deadly cough.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released a stark audio clip of the rasping, gasping sound made by sufferers of the cough, warning the illness can begin like an ordinary cold before turning serious. The sound parents are being told to recognise can be heard here. Health officials say the infection often starts with mild symptoms such as a runny nose and low fever – before escalating into violent coughing fits.
These attacks can last several minutes and may trigger vomiting, with some sufferers making the distinctive “whoop” as they gasp for breath.
UKHSA warned: “Whooping cough can start like a cold. The ‘whoop’ is distinctive, although some babies and adults don’t make the classic sound.”
Official figures show thare was a dramatic spike in cases in 2024, since when numbers have fallen back. However, the watchdog warned it is important that parents remain vigilant.
Why experts are concerned
Despite the drop in cases, doctors warn the threat has not gone away – particularly for the youngest children. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, spreads easily and attacks the lungs and airways.
Babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated face the greatest danger, with risks including:
- Breathing pauses (apnoea)
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- In rare cases, death
The illness is sometimes dubbed the “100-day cough” due to how long symptoms can last.
Adults may be spreading it without realising
Experts say older children and adults often experience milder symptoms – but can unknowingly pass the infection on. In some cases, weeks of persistent coughing can lead to rib injuries, hernias or burst blood vessels in the eyes.
The key protection parents are urged not to miss
Health officials stress vaccination remains the best defence.
In the UK:
- Babies receive doses at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
- A booster follows in early childhood
- A new 18-month dose is being introduced for children born from July 2024
- Pregnant women are advised to get vaccinated from around 20 weeks
Vaccination during pregnancy is more than 90% effective at preventing deaths in young babies, as protection is passed on before birth.
A disease that comes in cycles
Whooping cough typically peaks every three to five years, with previous surges seen in 2012 and 2016.
Experts say the 2024 outbreak was partly driven by reduced social mixing during the pandemic, followed by a rebound as normal life resumed. More details can be found here.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
