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Swedish Infants Developed Pertussis at a Younger Age if Their Mother Was the Possible Source of Infection in

Bernice Aronsson1, Lennart Nilsson2,3, Jann Storsaeter1

  • 1The Public Health Agency of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|September 15, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Mothers are the most common source of pertussis infection in infants under six months. This highlights the importance of maternal vaccination to protect vulnerable newborns from severe pertussis disease.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) poses a significant threat to infants under six months.
  • Identifying the source of pertussis in infants is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the primary source of laboratory-confirmed pertussis infections in infants younger than six months.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide prospective study in Sweden (2009-2015) analyzed 345 laboratory-confirmed pertussis cases in infants.
  • Interviews with parents/carers identified close contacts and potential sources of infection prior to disease onset.

Main Results:

  • The mother was identified as the likely source of infection in 33% of cases where a single source was determined.
  • Infants infected by their mothers were significantly younger at onset and had higher hospitalization rates compared to those infected by other sources.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the implementation of general maternal pertussis vaccination programs.
  • Additional preventive measures are necessary to protect high-risk infants from severe pertussis and mortality.
Abstract

Keywords:
infection sourcematernal vaccinationmortalitypertussisprevention

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