HEALTH chiefs in Ayrshire and Arran have confirmed a number of cases of whooping cough in the region.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways, and is spread when a person coughs or sneezes.

It is often treated with antibiotics, and small babies, particularly under two months, may develop a more serious illness with whooping cough.

More than 2,500 suspected whooping cough infections have been diagnosed by GPs across the UK so far in 2024 after a spike in cases.

The health board has not disclosed the number of officially-recorded whooping cough cases in Ayrshire and Arran, or their exact locations.

Lisa Davidson, assistant director for public health, said, “It is important to know the symptoms of whooping cough, which are repeated coughing bouts, vomiting or a whoop sound when the person draws breath once again.

"The cough may last for several weeks or months. It can make babies under 6 months of age particularly ill.

"However, whooping cough can be prevented with a vaccine that is offered routinely to all babies in the first year of life and a pre-school booster.

“If you think that your child has missed out on some of the whooping cough immunisations, please firstly contact your GP and ask to be referred into the non-routine vaccination service where an appointment will be issued.”

Now the Ayrshire and Arran health board is urging people to contact their GP practice or NHS 111 out of hours if they think that they or their child might have whooping cough.

This is particularly important if there is a baby under six months of age in the household and somebody has symptoms of whooping cough, or if they are pregnant and have symptoms of whooping cough.

Symptoms include coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night; making a "whoop" sound – a gasp for breath between coughs (young babies and some adults may not "whoop"); having difficulty breathing after a coughing bout; young infants turning blue or grey after coughing; bringing up a thick mucus; and becoming very red in the face - the last more common in adults.

If your GP practice is unable to assist, please contact NHS Ayrshire and Arran's public health team.

For all children of school age, call 01294 317271 or 01294 317262.

For pre-school children call the following numbers: East Ayrshire 01294 317263 or 01294 317262; North Ayrshire 01294 317265 or 01294 317262; South Ayrshire call 01294 317268 or 01294 317262.

If you are unsure if your child has missed any vaccinations and wish to enquire, please use the telephone numbers above.

Whooping cough vaccine is also offered routinely to all pregnant women at around 20 weeks pregnancy.

If you think that you may have missed out on the vaccine during pregnancy, please contact your community midwife.

You can find more information about whooping cough at: www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/whooping-cough.