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Protecting infants from pertussis
1BC Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Room K4-226, Ambulatory Care Bldg, 4480 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4. rgoldman@cw.bc.ca.
Insights
Protecting young infants from pertussis (whooping cough) is crucial. While cocooning offers limited protection, maternal vaccination during pregnancy is more effective for preventing infant pertussis, though not yet approved in Canada.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) is a globally endemic, preventable disease.
- While adults experience mild symptoms, infants face severe risks including apnea, seizures, encephalopathy, bronchopneumonia, and death.
- Infants under 4 months account for 86% of pertussis-related fatalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address parental concerns regarding infant protection against pertussis.
- To evaluate current strategies for preventing pertussis in young infants.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing pertussis prevention strategies.
- Analysis of the efficacy of cocooning (adult vaccination) and maternal vaccination.
Main Results:
- Cocooning is recommended but likely prevents only 20% of infant pertussis cases.
- Vaccination during pregnancy is a more effective strategy.
- Infant vaccination at birth lacks consistent efficacy and is not currently recommended.
Conclusions:
- Pertussis poses a significant threat to young infants.
- Maternal vaccination during pregnancy is the most effective preventive measure discussed.
- Further research and policy changes are needed regarding vaccination strategies for infant pertussis protection.
Question:
With the increased rate of pertussis in children, several families have asked me about ways to protect their young infants from pertussis infection. What should I recommend to these families?
Answer:
Pertussis is a preventable disease that is endemic worldwide. In adults pertussis causes a mild coldlike illness followed by a persistent cough. In young infants it can cause apnea, seizures, encephalopathy, bronchopneumonia, and death. Infants younger than 4 months of age account for 86% of all deaths due to pertussis. Cocooning, the vaccination of adults in close contact with infants, is recommended by numerous global and national agencies but is likely to prevent only 20% of cases of pertussis in infants. Vaccination during pregnancy is more effective but not yet approved in Canada. Vaccination at birth has not been shown to be consistently effective and therefore is not recommended at this time.
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