Health officials have raised concerns as whooping cough, or pertussis, cases rise nationwide. Dr. Tina Tan, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Northwestern University and the newly appointed president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, emphasized that whooping cough is not limited to children.
"Adolescents and adults serve as a major source of transmission in the community because many physicians that care for adults continue to believe that pertussis is only a pediatric disease," said Dr. Tan. She further explained that there is a misconception about lifelong immunity following childhood vaccination or infection. "They also believe that if a person has had the disease or received vaccines as a child that they are protected for life, which is completely not true."
Dr. Tan highlighted the importance of diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics to prevent spread within communities. She noted that she is available for interviews regarding the recent increase in cases and how the disease affects different age groups.
According to Dr. Tan's insights on whooping cough: it remains one of the most common upper respiratory infections and is highly transmissible, similar to measles. While anyone can contract it, young infants under six months old, those with immune deficiencies, and elderly individuals face higher risks of complications.
The primary symptom in adolescents and adults is an intense prolonged cough. Infected individuals can remain contagious for up to a month after symptoms begin.
Dr. Tan attributes the current surge in cases to several factors:
Whooping cough epidemics typically occur every three to five years but were disrupted during the pandemic due to isolation and mask-wearing practices which limited transmission despite ongoing circulation of Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
Additionally, decreased routine vaccination rates across all age groups have led to more susceptible individuals capable of spreading the disease widely upon infection.
Furthermore, increased use of respiratory pathogen panels including pertussis testing in healthcare settings has contributed to heightened detection rates.