Doctors have called on pregnant women to get vaccinated for whooping cough after one baby sadly died from the infection.
The HSE confirmed to the Independent.ie that whooping cough has claimed the life of one infant and left another seriously ill.
The death occurred in Longford, where currently there are 11 cases of the illness, mostly among young babies that are not old enough to be vaccinated themselves. The vaccine is given to infants when they are two, four, and six months old.
Dr Padraig McGarry told the Journal, “Whooping cough is highly contagious and incredibly distressing for both baby and mother, and the consequences for a young baby can be very serious – even fatal.”
Dr McGarry, who is the Chairman of the IMO GP Committee, believes that the vaccination should be included in Mother and Infant Prenatal Scheme.
He shared that the best thing an expectant mum can do for her baby is to think about getting the vaccine from her local GP.
It is suggested that pregnant women get the shot between 16 and 36 weeks' gestation. Even if a woman is more than 36 weeks pregnant, Dr McGarry says it is a good idea for her to get vaccinated.
A whooping cough is highly contagious, like bacterial infections, whooping cough is spread through direct contact or through breathing in air that is infected.
The infection is extremely dangerous for babies and children under the age of one. Doctors have stressed the importance of vaccinating children against whooping cough as it can cause pneumonia and brain damage, and death in extreme cases.
The illness happens in stages, with initial symptoms being mild. The symptoms will continue to worsen as time goes by.
At first, people with whooping cough will have cold or flu symptoms such as fever, runny nose, cough and sneezing. These symptoms can last for a couple of weeks before a cough gets worse.
During the middle stage of the infection people cough at least 12 times a day, the cough will usually bring up phlegm. Other symptoms include vomiting after a series of coughing, exhaustion from coughing, a cough that lasts more than one minute.
Visit your local GP if you are concerned that you or your child have whooping cough.
