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[Pertussis (whooping cough)]

Ulrich Heininger1,2

  • 1Universitäts-Kinderspital beider Basel, Spitalstr. 33, 4056 Basel, Schweiz.

Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde : Organ Der Deutschen Gesellschaft Fur Kinderheilkunde
|August 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis, a serious respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis, poses significant risks to infants. Vaccination, particularly in pregnant women, is crucial for preventing severe infant cases and ensuring timely infant immunization.

Area of Science:

  • Bacteriology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Context:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
  • Disease severity ranges from mild cough to life-threatening complications like hyperleukocytosis and respiratory failure, particularly in infants.
  • Diagnosis relies on clinical presentation and microbiological detection.

Purpose:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of pertussis, including its causative agent, clinical spectrum, diagnosis, treatment, and epidemiology.
  • To highlight the critical role of vaccination strategies in pertussis prevention, emphasizing maternal vaccination and infant immunization schedules.

Summary:

  • Pertussis is caused by Bordetella pertussis, with incidence rates highest in infants and adolescents.
  • Treatment involves macrolide antibiotics, with caffeine used for apnea.
  • Vaccination, including basic immunization, boosters, and maternal vaccination, is the primary prevention method.
  • Maternal vaccination is the most effective strategy to protect young infants from severe pertussis.

Impact:

  • Informing healthcare providers and public health officials about current pertussis epidemiology and management.
  • Guiding vaccination policies and strategies to reduce pertussis incidence and severity, especially in vulnerable infant populations.
  • Emphasizing the importance of timely infant immunization and the benefits of maternal pertussis vaccination programs.
Keywords:
AntibioticsBordetella pertussisImmunizationPolymerase chain reactionTransmission

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