The prevention of severe pertussis and pertussis deaths in young infants

Introduction: Today, in the developed world, virtually all deaths due to Bordetella pertussis illnesses occur in young infants. Areas Covered: Pertussis in young infants is characterized by an afebrile cough illness with coryza, apnea, seizures, cyanosis, and emesis. Severe illness is associated with high leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, rapid respiratory and cardiac rates and pneumonia. Many routine intensive care treatment procedures are detrimental: these include steroids and nitric oxide. Preventative measures include: quarantine, prophylactic antimicrobial agents and immunizations of the mother to be with Tdap between 27 and 36 weeks gestation. Expert Opinion: Infants deaths are due to the irreversible pulmonary hypertension which is caused by aggregates of leukocytes in the small vessels in the lung. The leukocytosis with lymphocytosis is due to pertussis toxin. It can be treated by exchange blood transfusions. However for this to be successful it needs to be started before shock or organ failure has occurred. To prevent pertussis in young infants, attention needs to be directed to the diagnosis and treatment of pertussis in adolescents and adults. Also important are antimicrobial prophylaxis in the infant and the immunization of mothers to be with Tdap vaccine during all pregnancies.