[Adult pertussis: an emerging clinical problem requiring urgent attention]

Against the backdrop of a global resurgence of pertussis, China has also experienced an increase in reported pertussis cases over the past decade. Pertussis poses a significant threat to children, particularly young infants, with severe cases and fatalities predominantly occurring in babies under three months old. Transmission to this vulnerable age group is frequently traced back to adults with pertussis within household settings. However, pertussis in adults is often underdiagnosed and overlooked, meaning they are a primary source of infection for infants. To enhance clinicians' awareness of pertussis in adults, reduce diagnostic oversights, facilitate early treatment, and interrupt the transmission chain from adults to children, this article reviewed the current epidemiology of pertussis, the underestimation and diagnostic challenges of pertussis in adults, and the rational use of antibiotics in regions with high prevalence of macrolide-resistant Bordetella pertussis.