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Recent developments in pertussis

Natasha S Crowcroft1, Richard G Pebody

  • 1Immunisation Department, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London NW9 5EQ, UK. Natasha.Crowcroft@HPA.org.uk

Lancet (London, England)
|June 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis vaccination is crucial for children, but breakthrough infections occur. New strategies, including boosters and vaccinating pregnant women, are being explored to combat this persistent respiratory illness.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) remains a significant global health threat, causing hundreds of thousands of childhood deaths annually, particularly in developing nations.
  • While pertussis vaccination is effective in infants and children, breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals highlight ongoing challenges.
  • Pertussis control is complex, with issues ranging from improving vaccination coverage in high-mortality regions to managing rising cases in adolescents and adults in well-vaccinated areas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current challenges and emerging strategies in pertussis control and prevention.
  • To highlight the uncertainties in pertussis transmission dynamics and the need for improved data.
  • To discuss novel vaccination approaches for enhancing population immunity against pertussis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on pertussis epidemiology, vaccination impact, and control programs.
  • Analysis of trends in pertussis incidence across different age groups and geographical settings.
  • Examination of current and proposed vaccination strategies, including booster doses and new target populations.

Main Results:

  • Pertussis vaccination significantly reduces mortality and hospitalizations in children, yet challenges persist globally.
  • Increases in pertussis cases among adolescents, adults, and unvaccinated infants are reported, though the extent is debated.
  • The effectiveness of new adolescent and adult booster programs is currently unknown due to limited data.

Conclusions:

  • Despite high vaccination coverage in some regions, pertussis remains a difficult-to-control childhood disease.
  • Key data gaps, particularly regarding adult-to-infant transmission, hinder optimal vaccine program design.
  • Innovative strategies, such as vaccinating pregnant women, neonates, and family contacts, are under investigation to improve pertussis control.

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