[Whooping cough from infants to adults]

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
11:32

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria

Published on: February 23, 2014

Nicole Guiso1

  • 1Institut Pasteur-Unité Prevention et Thérapie Moléculaires des Maladies Humaines--25, rue du Dr. Roux--75724 Paris Cedex 15--URA CNRS 3012. nicole.guiso@pasteur.fr

Bulletin De L'Academie Nationale De Medecine
|May 19, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis immunity wanes over time, increasing adult and infant risk. Booster vaccines for adolescents and adults are crucial for controlling pertussis (whooping cough) spread.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Vaccinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Natural and vaccine-induced immunity to pertussis (whooping cough) is not lifelong.
  • Pertussis, once primarily a pediatric illness, now predominantly affects adults with diminished immunity.
  • Waning immunity in adults poses a significant risk of transmission to unvaccinated newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the shift in pertussis epidemiology towards adult populations.
  • To emphasize the importance of updated vaccination strategies, including booster doses.
  • To underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and diagnostic measures for pertussis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of pertussis epidemiology and vaccine strategy modifications.
  • Analysis of the impact of booster vaccinations in France.
  • Discussion of surveillance requirements, including diagnostic standardization and bacterial characterization.

Main Results:

  • Booster vaccinations for adolescents (1998) and adults (2004) in France correlated with reduced pertussis morbidity.
  • The strategy aims to protect vulnerable newborns by reducing adult-to-infant transmission.
  • Effective surveillance systems are essential for monitoring and controlling pertussis.

Conclusions:

  • Updated pertussis vaccine strategies, including boosters, are vital for controlling the disease.
  • Increased awareness among healthcare providers and the public regarding vaccine changes is necessary.
  • Robust surveillance and advanced bacterial characterization are key to managing pertussis outbreaks.

Related Concept Videos

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology01:29

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations01:19

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a long-term condition marked by persistent and only partially reversible airflow limitation. It involves two overlapping conditions—chronic bronchitis and emphysema—which often co-appear but differ in dominant symptoms and underlying mechanisms.Chronic Bronchitis FeaturesChronic bronchitis presents with a persistent productive cough and thick, sometimes purulent mucus due to airway inflammation, enlarged mucus glands, and goblet cell...