Whooping cough can be fatal in children under age 2: Study

A study warns that pertussis (whooping cough) in infants can be life-threatening, often lacking typical symptoms. Researchers stress maternal vaccination during pregnancy as vital for newborn protection. Early antibiotic treatment and widespread immunisation remain key to preventing severe cases

New Delhi: Pertussis, or whooping cough, in young infants can be life-threatening, according to a study, which stressed the need for maternal vaccination during pregnancy.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that causes severe coughing fits and is often followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound as the person inhales. It can last for months in both adults and children.

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“Pertussis symptoms are different in infants,” said leading author Caitlin Li, infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

“The characteristic whooping cough may be absent, but apnoea, or breathing interruption, is common,” added Li, also Assistant Professor of paediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Pertussis in infants can also present with very high white blood cell count (“leukocytosis”), which pediatricians might mistake for cancer or other non-infectious conditions. Extremely high white blood cell counts in infants should prompt strong consideration of pertussis, said the researchers in a special article published in the journal Pediatrics.

They also strongly encourage vaccination during pregnancy.

“Given that infants are at high risk for complications, pertussis vaccination of mothers during pregnancy is critical, as it protects newborns against this potentially fatal illness,” Li said.

“Widespread vaccination is also an important tool to protect everyone.” The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommend vaccine doses at 2, 4, 6, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years of age. A booster dose is recommended at 11-12 years, with catch-up at 18 years.

The CDC also recommends universal vaccination during pregnancy, optimally between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation, as the primary tool to prevent pertussis-related deaths. Rapid initiation of antibiotics is recommended for all patients with confirmed or suspected pertussis. If given early in the disease course, this therapy may improve symptoms. While later treatment is unlikely to impact symptoms, it does reduce transmission, the team said.