Source: World Health Organization Website
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by Bodetella pertussis living in the mouth, nose and throat. Many children with whooping cough will continue to cough for four to eight weeks. The disease is the most dangerous infant disease and is easily transmitted from person to person through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. The initial symptoms usually occur 7-10 days after infection, including mild fever, runny nose and cough, which usually gradually develops into paroxysmal cough, which then forms asthma cough (commonly known as whooping cough). In the youngest infants, periodic episodes of apnea may occur. Pneumonia is a relatively common complication; epilepsy and encephalopathy rarely occur. Untreated patients after starting a cough for three weeks or more may be contagious. Whooping cough can be prevented by immunization.
For decades, infant immunization programs around the world have achieved remarkable results in using quality registered pertussis vaccines to prevent infants from suffering from severe pertussis. The World Health Organization estimates that the global pertussis vaccination in 2008 prevented approximately 687,000 deaths.
Pertussis vaccination is the main purpose of reducing the risk of severe pertussis in infants. To this end, the global immunization program continues to focus on vaccinating at least 90% of babies with three doses of high-quality pertussis vaccine.
Although vaccination can prevent pertussis in adolescents and adults, there is not enough evidence that enhancing doses of vaccination at these ages can reduce severe pertussis in infants. If the state implements immunization programs for adults, medical staff should have the privilege of prioritizing immunization, especially those with direct contact with pregnant women and infant patients. Vaccination of pregnant women may be the most cost-effective additional strategy to prevent disease from occurring in infants under vaccination age and seems to be more effective and beneficial than cocoon formation.
