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The Changing Epidemiology of Pertussis in Young Infants: The Role of Adults as Reservoirs of Infection

The Changing Epidemiology of Pertussis in Young Infants: The Role of Adults as Reservoirs of... Abstract • We reviewed 400 bacteriologically confirmed cases of pertussis in infants and children during the past 18 years. Several changes in the epidemiology have occurred in the most recent six-year period. The incidence of whooping cough in children has decreased by at least 50%, but the proportion of cases occurring in infants younger than 12 weeks of age has doubled to 30% of all cases. Formerly most young infants acquired their illness from siblings or other children, but in the recent period adults in the household were the most common source of infection to neonates and young infants. This observation plus the increasingly high level of immunization in preschool and school-aged children suggest that young adults with waning immunity and mild illness are a major reservoir for transmission of pertussis to infants too young to be immunized. (Am J Dis Child 132:371-373, 1978) References 1. Phillips J: Whooping-cough contracted at the time of birth, with report of two cases . Am J Med Sci 116:163-165, 1921. 2. Whitaker JA, Donaldson P, Nelson JD: Diagnosis of pertussis by the fluorescent antibody method . N Engl J Med 263:850-851, 1960.Crossref 3. Brooksaler F, Nelson JD: Pertussis: A reappraisal and report of 190 confirmed cases . Am J Dis Child 114:389-396, 1967. 4. Finland M: Pertussis: With notes on the maternal transmission of antibacterial antibodies , in Charles D, Finland M (eds): Obstetric and Perinatal Infections . Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1973. 5. Lapin JH. Whooping Cough . Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1943. 6. Cockayne EA: Whooping-cough in the first days of life . Br J Child Dis 10:534-537, 1913. 7. Gatti G. Su di un caso di pertosse in neonata . Pediatria 22:687-690, 1914. 8. Milio G. Sopra due casi di pertosse nel neonato . Pediatria 30:297-301, 1922. 9. Mittelstaedt W. Über angeborenen Keuchhusten . Kinderärztlichen Praxis 10:270-271, 1939. 10. Linnemann CC Jr, Bass JW, Smith MHD. The carrier state in pertussis . Am J Epidemiol 88:422-427, 1968. 11. Linnemann CC Jr, Partin JC, Perlstein PH, et al. Pertussis: Persistent problems . J Pediatr 85:589-591, 1974.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

The Changing Epidemiology of Pertussis in Young Infants: The Role of Adults as Reservoirs of Infection

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References (12)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1978 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0002-922X
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1978.02120290043006
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract • We reviewed 400 bacteriologically confirmed cases of pertussis in infants and children during the past 18 years. Several changes in the epidemiology have occurred in the most recent six-year period. The incidence of whooping cough in children has decreased by at least 50%, but the proportion of cases occurring in infants younger than 12 weeks of age has doubled to 30% of all cases. Formerly most young infants acquired their illness from siblings or other children, but in the recent period adults in the household were the most common source of infection to neonates and young infants. This observation plus the increasingly high level of immunization in preschool and school-aged children suggest that young adults with waning immunity and mild illness are a major reservoir for transmission of pertussis to infants too young to be immunized. (Am J Dis Child 132:371-373, 1978) References 1. Phillips J: Whooping-cough contracted at the time of birth, with report of two cases . Am J Med Sci 116:163-165, 1921. 2. Whitaker JA, Donaldson P, Nelson JD: Diagnosis of pertussis by the fluorescent antibody method . N Engl J Med 263:850-851, 1960.Crossref 3. Brooksaler F, Nelson JD: Pertussis: A reappraisal and report of 190 confirmed cases . Am J Dis Child 114:389-396, 1967. 4. Finland M: Pertussis: With notes on the maternal transmission of antibacterial antibodies , in Charles D, Finland M (eds): Obstetric and Perinatal Infections . Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger, 1973. 5. Lapin JH. Whooping Cough . Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1943. 6. Cockayne EA: Whooping-cough in the first days of life . Br J Child Dis 10:534-537, 1913. 7. Gatti G. Su di un caso di pertosse in neonata . Pediatria 22:687-690, 1914. 8. Milio G. Sopra due casi di pertosse nel neonato . Pediatria 30:297-301, 1922. 9. Mittelstaedt W. Über angeborenen Keuchhusten . Kinderärztlichen Praxis 10:270-271, 1939. 10. Linnemann CC Jr, Bass JW, Smith MHD. The carrier state in pertussis . Am J Epidemiol 88:422-427, 1968. 11. Linnemann CC Jr, Partin JC, Perlstein PH, et al. Pertussis: Persistent problems . J Pediatr 85:589-591, 1974.Crossref

Journal

American Journal of Diseases of Children – American Medical Association

Published: Apr 1, 1978

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