Whooping cough: identification, assessment and management

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Immunology

Background:

• Despite widespread vaccination, pertussis (whooping cough) notifications are rising in developed countries, particularly among older children and adults.
• While vaccinated individuals may experience milder symptoms, they can still transmit Bordetella pertussis.
• The primary public health concern is the transmission from these individuals to unvaccinated, vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance understanding of the resurgence of whooping cough.
• To outline current prevention strategies for pertussis.
• To discuss the management of whooping cough cases.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent epidemiological data on pertussis incidence.
• Analysis of vaccination impact on disease presentation.
• Synthesis of clinical guidelines for pertussis prevention and management.

Main Results:

• Pertussis incidence is increasing in older age groups, despite high vaccine uptake.
• Adults and older children act as reservoirs for Bordetella pertussis transmission.
• Infants remain at highest risk for severe pertussis complications.

Conclusions:

• The rise in whooping cough necessitates a re-evaluation of vaccination strategies and public health interventions.
• Effective prevention and management are crucial to protect vulnerable infant populations.
• Continued surveillance and research are needed to address pertussis resurgence.