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25th October 2024
11:41am BST
Over 150 children were hospitalised with whooping cough in Ireland this year.
According to reports, there was a total of 514 cases diagnosed so far this year, which is 18 cases more than in 2023.
The bacterial illness can be extremely serious in young children, but most cases are treated with antibiotics.
The key treatment for whooping cough is antibiotics, which will be given to your child by the GP. Doctors have stressed that treating the illness within the first three weeks is crucial, especially to help avoid bacterial infections.
The main symptoms of whooping cough include long bouts of coughing, as well as choking as your child may struggle to catch their breath.
Parents have been told to contact their GP if they’re concerned about their child’s health.
Women can get the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy to help prevent their infant from getting it.
The HSPC stated, "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," they added.
Parents have been advised against treating whooping cough with over-the-counter medicines like cough syrups because they won’t ease symptoms. Antibiotics are the key treatment plan, but some remedies can help ease symptoms.
Doctors have suggested giving your child herbal teas, such as chamomile tea to ease the pain. This is also a great way to help them sleep as the herbal tea can help them unwind.
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