Last year England got caught up in the nation’s biggest outbreak of the ‘100-day’ cough (also known as whooping cough or pertussis) in over a decade. A total of 14,894 cases and 11 deaths were confirmed by the NHS in 2024 in an outbreak that dragged on pretty much all year.
In 2025, the situation has been much more controlled. Between January and June of this year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 504 cases. While total cases are lower, however, the condition can still be deadly – UKHSA revealed that one baby has died from whooping cough so far in the UK this year.
The UKHSA is urging Britons (particularly pregnant women) to get vaccinated against the cough, which is particularly threatening to very young children. Pregnant women are typically vaccinated against it during pregnancy, while babies and young children are routinely vaccinated against it. The mother of the child that died from whooping cough this year was not vaccinated.
Across the whole 2023, 858 cases of whopping cough infection were recorded in the UK, while nearly 15,000 cases were identified in 2024. Since last summer case numbers have slowly been decreasing, but the UKHSA has warned that the increase has come amid a steady decline in vaccine uptake among pregnant women and children.
So, what is the 100-day whooping cough? How do you know if you’ve fallen victim – and, importantly, how do you get rid of it? We’ve got all the stuff you need to know below.
What is the 100-day cough?
You might know the 100-day cough by its more common name, whooping cough. The official name for it is pertussis, which is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes caused by a (rather operatic-sounding) bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.
The name ‘100-day cough’ comes, as you’ve probably guessed, from the fact that it can persist for weeks or even months.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
According to the NHS website, the first signs of a 100-day whooping cough are pretty similar to a cold – normally a runny nose and sore throat.
After a week, there are more developed symptoms. You might:
- have coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and get worse at night
- make a ‘whoop’ sound when you gasp for breath between coughs
- have difficulty breathing after a coughing fit
- bring up thick mucus
- become red in the face
Whooping cough can be particularly dangerous in children and especially babies under six months. It increases their chances of problems like dehydration, breathing difficulties, pneumonia and seizures.
To ease symptoms make sure you get loads of rest, drink lots of fluids and take some pain killers to relieve discomfort.
What are the signs of whooping cough in adults?
Adults’ symptoms for whooping cough are the same as the cold-like ones outlined above.
There are typically three phases to the cough: the catarrhal phase (the first three weeks, with upper respiratory effects), the paroxysmal phase (with repeated coughing, periods of fever and ‘whooping’ inhalation) and the convalescent phase (where the cough persists until it peters out, with bouts often triggered by irritants).
How contagious is whooping cough?
It spreads very easily through droplets from coughs or sneezes. Some people might have mild symptoms of the cough and not be aware that they’re spreading it.
What does the 100-day cough sound like?
The cough itself is severe and hacking, with bouts that leave sufferers short of breath. The distinctive ‘whoop’ sound comes from gasping for air and heavy wheezing after coughing.
How do you treat whooping cough?
It depends how old you are and how long you’ve had the infection. The NHS advises that you seek hospital treatment if the coughing is severe or your child is under six months old. Check the official NHS website here for more details.
How to get vaccinated against whooping cough
A vaccine protects both children and babies from whooping cough. Typically, it is part of the routine vaccinations offered to women during pregnancy. Find out about the pregnancy vaccine on the NHS website here.
Then these are the two vaccine packages for children:
- 6-in-1 vaccine – for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
- 4-in-1 pre-school booster – for children aged 3 years 4 months
Are antibiotics used to treat whooping cough?
The NHS says it will only prescribe antibiotics if the cough is diagnosed within two weeks of it starting. After that point, it says it is unlikely to help your symptoms.
Why is this deadly Victorian disease making a comeback in the UK?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.