Cases of '100-day cough' are rising in the UK. Here's what you should know about whooping cough

If you’ve had a cough that you just can’t seem to shake, you’re not alone.

Cases of whooping cough - sometimes called the "100-day cough" - are on the rise in England and Wales, having increased by roughly 230 per cent compared to last year, according to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Between July and November 2023, there were 716 reported occurrences of whooping cough, which is three times higher than the same period in 2022. These numbers remain lower than in pre-pandemic years, however.

Officially known as pertussis, whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.

The disease is most dangerous in infants, the World Health Organisation (WHO) states, also warning that people with pertussis are most contagious up to about three weeks after the cough begins.

Early symptoms usually appear seven to 10 days after infection and include a mild fever, runny nose, sore throat, and cough, which gradually develops into a hacking cough and then a whooping one (hence the name). This can be especially persistent, sometimes lasting for weeks or even months, according to the NHS.

Some adults may also experience rib pain from coughing so much or, in more extreme cases, a hernia.

While whooping cough affects all ages and is usually mild, it can be more serious for babies and very young children. In particular, babies under the age of 6 months have a higher chance of suffering from pneumonia, breathing difficulties, and seizures.

For this reason, pregnant women are recommended to get vaccinated to protect their babies from birth while young babies are offered three doses of the whooping cough jab at eight, twelve, and 16 weeks old.

In the 1950s, there were over 100,000 suspected