This in from Isle of Wight NHS, in their own words, Ed
Public Health officials on the Isle of Wight are concerned about a rise in the number of cases of Whooping cough. The medical term for whooping cough is pertussis. Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways.
Three cases in 2012 on the Island
The Island saw no confirmed cases between 2008 and 2011 but there have been three confirmed cases in 2012. In England and Wales there were 1,080 cases in the first quarter of 2012, while there were only 910 cases during the whole of 2011.
Simon Bryant, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at NHS Isle of Wight says: “For the first time in five years we have seen cases of Whooping cough in the Island. In the most severe cases young babies under the age of six months may need to be admitted to hospital with complications, such as serious breathing difficulties. Whooping cough can be prevented by vaccination and I would encourage all parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated in line with national guidelines.”
Preventing Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is passed from person to person through droplets in the air from coughing and sneezing.
It is important to take steps to avoid spreading the infection to others; especially young babies under the age of six months. In the UK, children are vaccinated against whooping cough as part of the childhood vaccination programme.
Although the number of cases of whooping cough has fallen dramatically since vaccination began, it is still possible for children to get the infection, so ensuring that your children have had all of their vaccinations is vital.
Symptoms
Whooping cough usually begins with a persistent dry and irritating cough which progresses to intense bouts of coughing. These are followed by a distinctive ‘whooping’ noise which is how the condition gets its name.
Other symptoms include a runny nose, raised temperature and vomiting after coughing. The coughing can last for around three months (another name for whooping cough is the ‘hundred day cough’). Whooping cough can be treated successfully with antibiotics and most people make a full recovery.
Vaccination
Due to the success of the NHS vaccination scheme whooping cough is now uncommon in young children. Most cases now occur in adults and in these cases symptoms tend to be less serious (although having to live with a persistent cough can be both frustrating and unpleasant).
Image: © NHS
