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Pertussis in the young infant

S D Hampl1, L C Olson

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine, USA.

Seminars in Respiratory Infections
|March 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Waning immunity and subclinical pertussis (whooping cough) in adults fuel outbreaks, especially in infants. Current vaccines need improvement to combat the resurgence of this highly contagious respiratory illness.

Area of Science:

  • Communicable diseases
  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious respiratory illness with variable severity, decreasing with age.
  • Adults with waning immunity can transmit subclinical pertussis to unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children.
  • Despite high immunization rates, pertussis activity persists, posing significant risks to infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the ongoing challenge of pertussis transmission.
  • To emphasize the vulnerability of young infants to severe pertussis complications.
  • To underscore the need for enhanced pertussis vaccine strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of pertussis epidemiology and transmission dynamics.
  • Analysis of disease severity and complications in different age groups.
  • Evaluation of current immunization strategies and their limitations.

Main Results:

  • Infants under 2 months face the highest attack rates, morbidity, and mortality from pertussis.
  • Serious complications include apnea, pneumonia, and encephalopathy, prolonging illness in infants.
  • Pertussis resurgence is observed despite widespread active immunization, indicating transmission in immunized populations and subclinical adult reservoirs.

Conclusions:

  • Subclinical pertussis in adults acts as a reservoir for transmission to vulnerable infants.
  • The current pertussis vaccine immunization strategy requires re-evaluation due to disease resurgence.
  • More effective vaccines are needed to control pertussis transmission and protect infants.

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