Symptoms of dreaded 100-day cough with thousands of people ill in Ireland

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is advising people of a viral cough that many at present appear to be contracting. 

Whooping cough, once known as the 100-day cough, is a disease which causes long bouts of coughing and choking in children making it hard to breathe, it can also affect adults.

According to the HSE: "A child may turn blue from lack of air, or vomit after a coughing spell. Between these coughing spells a child gasps for air causing the characteristic ‘whoop’ sound. Not all children get the ‘whoop’. A child with whooping cough can have difficulty eating, drinking or even breathing. The disease can last up to three months. Whooping cough is most serious in babies under 12 months of age, often requiring admission to hospital and may be fatal.

"Whooping cough is 'a very serious disease' which 'is caused by bacteria called Bordetella Pertussis that live in the mouth, nose and throat. Whooping cough is spread by personal contact, coughing and sneezing. Infection is often transmitted to young children in the home from older siblings or adults who may be harbouring the bacteria in their nose and throat."

Symptoms include: 

Respiratory (Breathing):

Most cases of whooping cough involve some degree of collapsed lung and/or pneumonia. 

Babies may stop breathing. 

Pneumonia may be severe enough to lead to death. 

Approximately half the deaths from whooping cough are due to pneumonia.

Those who survive usually do not experience permanent lung damage.

Central nervous system (Brain):

There may be altered consciousness or convulsions.

This is most likely due to a lack of oxygen or small amounts of bleeding into the brain. 

Death, permanent brain damage or full recovery are equally likely to result from this form of the disease.

Around half of babies under 6 months who have whooping cough may be admitted to hospital.

 Up to 1 in 70 babies can suffer convulsions. Around 1 in 1000 may develop encephalopathy (inflammation of the brain).

Nutritional (Feeding):

Frequent vomiting and loss of appetite may result in severe weight loss.

Whooping cough is a serious illness and may result in death. 

More than half of the babies under one year with whooping cough are hospitalised.

Pertussis (whooping cough) can be prevented by vaccination.

For more information on the vaccine, the virus or to find out what to do if you suspect you or your child may have Whooping cough visit HERE.