DOCTORS have urged pregnant women to protect their baby by being vaccinated against whooping cough as cases of the highly infectious condition soar.

Young babies and infants are most at risk of whooping cough with a 25 per cent increase in the number of cases in the south east prompting calls for more women to be vaccinated.

Whooping cough – known medically as pertussis - is an infection which can create serious breathing difficulties, particularly in babies and young children.

It can lead to major health complications such as brain damage and pneumonia and can be fatal.

In the south region, there were 1141 cases of whooping cough in 2014, increasing by more than 25 per cent to 1432 in 2015, but only 60 per cent of mothers had the vaccine.

Only 43 per cent of pregnant women in Slough were protected against the condition.

Dr Nigel Acheson, regional medical director, said: "People often think of whooping cough as an illness from days gone by – but it is a real threat to babies and young children right now and can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and even death.

"As we are also approaching the winter flu season, I also urge pregnant women to receive their free flu vaccination, which they can have at the same time as whooping cough. This way they will protect themselves and their baby from both potentially fatal illnesses."

In 2012, 14 babies died in England and Wales following a whooping cough infection.

The vaccine is given at a GP practice or in maternity units at the point of the foetal abnormality scan, from 20 weeks of pregnancy.

To find out more visit the NHS Choices website and search ‘whooping cough’