A mum has revealed the nightmare ordeal she faced after her daughter caught whooping cough – with the parent fearing her child’s life was on the line.
Alana Yeates was left terrified as she woke up to find the teen “gasping for breath” with her lips going blue.
The mum-of-two, from Peterlee, County Durham, recalls Ellie, 14, starting off with a sore throat, which later turned into a cough that wouldn’t budge.
There has been a rise in the bacterial infection reported across the UK – with 1,319 in March, up from 900 in February.
The 39-year-old mum is hoping to raise awareness to help other parents know the signs to look out for before it’s too late.
“Around 4am, I woke to find Ellie gasping for breath, her lips were going blue and I thought she was going to die,” Alana told Need To Know.
“The wheezing noise she was making was horrific, she couldn’t breathe.
“It was the most terrifying thing we have ever been through.
“I felt absolutely helpless, I didn’t know what to do. She could not catch her breath and I could see she was petrified.
“I was about to call an ambulance, when she started calming down, but it was the longest and scariest three minutes of my life.
“Ellie was so frightened; she was too scared to go back to sleep.
“She had seven pillows propping her up but she was still coughing continuously.
“She said she thought she was going to die and has never experienced anything like it in her life.”
Ellie, who started with symptoms in April 2024, had allegedly been told it was a viral infection, that should be treated with fluids.
Alana, who knew something much worse was going on, recorded her daughter’s coughs and played this for the doctors to listen to – and straight away, she was diagnosed with the infection.
She was given an inhaler and antibiotics; but weeks later, the teen is still battling.
Alana added: “She’s been unable to take part in PE at school and is missing her horse riding sessions.
“Ellie is usually a fit and healthy teenager, but she’s too lethargic to do anything physical.
“Before this, I knew nothing at all about whooping cough – I honestly thought it was an illness from the past.
“I was told teenagers don’t really get whooping cough, but they do.
“My children were vaccinated but it’s highly contagious and it’s the scariest thing I have ever seen my daughter go through.
“I would say to parents to trust your own judgment and ask for a second opinion if you’re not convinced.
“Having seen the cases in the news, I realise how serious it was for her and I’m so thankful she is very slowly getting better.
“I dread to think what could have happened to her”
