By Anna Burdett

Last updated at 12:01, Saturday, 27 October 2012

Nearly 200 cases of whooping cough have been diagnosed in Cumbria so far this year as the country faces a possible epidemic.

Janine Teasdale and Johnathan Goulding with son Deon

Pregnant women are being urged to get vaccinated against the infection to give their unborn children more protection after birth.

Most of the cases in the county were found in adults but whooping cough in children can be fatal and already 10 babies have died in the UK in the worst outbreak for decades.

There were 1,322 people infected in September, bringing the national total to 6,121 this year according to the Health Protection Agency.

Surges in whooping cough cases happen every three to four years and the latest outbreak started at the end of 2011.

For maximum immunity, youngsters need jabs at two, three and four-months-old then a pre-school booster when they’re three years old.

Getting vaccinated while pregnant can help to protect the unborn baby from developing whooping cough in its first few weeks of life.

Jane Morphet, immunisation co-ordinator for NHS Cumbria, said: “We are pleased that pregnant women over 28 weeks are contacting GP practices to arrange for whooping cough booster vaccination.

“There seems to be a good understanding among the pregnant women that having the vaccine will enable them to pass protection to the unborn baby, thus protecting them until they are old enough to be vaccinated.”

An 18-month-old baby from Maryport nearly died from the infection last year.

Deon Goulding, of Buttermere Road, was coughing a bit but his mother Janine Teasdale noticed he would turn white in his sleep.

When he was 15 days old, he was admitted to hospital for observation but sent home the next day with the all-clear. A few days later, he stopped breathing and was admitted to hospital but still doctors did not give a correct diagnosis and his father Johnathan refused to take him home.

After several days, a doctor suggested Deon should be tested for whooping cough and he was successfully treated.

Parents are being urged to look out for the symptoms, which include severe coughing fits accompanied by the characteristic ‘whoop’ sound in young children.

The vaccine being used on pregnant women is Repevax, a standard children’s vaccine and is in stock currently. It is free to all pregnant women 28-38 weeks into their pregnancy.

First published at 11:12, Saturday, 27 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk