Health authorities in Ireland have issued a serious alert regarding the alarming rise of the ‘100-day cough’, with numerous cases reported this year, reports The Mirror.
Pertussis, commonly referred to as whooping cough, is an extremely contagious illness that typically starts with symptoms akin to a regular cold, such as sneezing, a runny nose, a mild cough, and a slight fever. However, after about two weeks, the cough becomes more severe, resulting in bouts of rapid coughing followed by a high-pitched ‘whoop’ as sufferers struggle to breathe between episodes.
This disease can impact individuals of any age. While the majority of reported cases are in children under five, adolescents and adults also experience cases annually. This illness poses a particular threat to infants, who face the risk of serious complications, reports The Mirror.
Whooping cough is notorious for lasting up to three months, which is why it is often called the ‘100-day cough.’ Alarmingly, Ireland has experienced a notable rise in cases this year, with 514 confirmed instances compared to the very low counts observed in recent years due to the pandemic (2021 – 5 cases, 2022 – 7 cases, 2023 – 18 cases).
This year’s reports show 101 cases in the 0 – 5 month age group; 87 in the 1 – 2 years category; 53 in the 5 – 9 years segment; and another 53 in the 10 – 14 years range. Out of these cases, 153 required hospitalization, reports The Mirror.
In October, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) issued a warning, indicating that Ireland is currently facing the highest number of cases in years. Similar surges in pertussis cases have been noted across Europe, with some nations even reporting deaths related to the disease.
A spokesperson said: “Cycles of increased pertussis typically occur every five years. We last saw high numbers of cases in 2016 and 2017. Therefore, considering the impact of the pandemic, it is not unexpected to see this increase in 2024. Similar increases are being seen across Europe. Since mid-2023, several EU countries have reported an increase in the number of pertussis cases notified. This increase has continued into 2024, and some countries have reported pertussis-related deaths,” reports The Mirror.
According to the HSE, different parts of the body may be affected including the lungs and brain.
Respiratory (Breathing)
The HSE said: “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,” reports The Mirror.
Central nervous system (Brain)
The HSE said: “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),” reports The Mirror.
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