See Kay Choong
Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore.
Vaccines (Basel). 2025 Jan 11;13(1):60. doi: 10.3390/vaccines13010060.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the Gram-negative bacterium . Although traditionally associated with children, pertussis is increasingly prevalent among adults, particularly those with comorbidities or weakened immune systems, where it can lead to severe complications. Diagnosing pertussis in adults can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms, underreporting, and the limited sensitivity of available diagnostic tests. While treatment with macrolides is generally effective, it may not significantly alter the clinical course of the disease, and growing concerns about macrolide resistance are emerging. Vaccination remains the cornerstone of prevention, offering proven immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety. However, vaccination uptake remains low, partly due to limited patient awareness and insufficient prioritization by healthcare professionals. This review aims to provide clinicians with critical insights into pertussis epidemiology, vaccination strategies, and the latest guideline recommendations, empowering them to engage in meaningful discussions with adult patients and advocate for increased vaccination to combat this often-overlooked infection.
百日咳，又称小儿咳嗽，是由革兰氏阴性菌引起的一种高度传染性的呼吸道感染。虽然传统上与儿童有关，但百日咳在成年人中越来越普遍，尤其是那些患有合并症或免疫系统较弱的人，在这些人群中，百日咳可能会导致严重的并发症。由于成人百日咳的症状不具特异性、报告不足以及现有诊断测试的敏感性有限，因此在成人中诊断百日咳具有挑战性。虽然使用大环内酯类药物治疗通常有效，但它可能不会显著改变疾病的临床进程，并且人们对大环内酯类耐药性的担忧日益增加。疫苗接种仍然是预防的基石，具有已证实的免疫原性、有效性和安全性。然而，疫苗接种率仍然很低，部分原因是患者意识有限以及医疗保健专业人员的重视不足。本综述旨在为临床医生提供关于百日咳流行病学、疫苗接种策略和最新指南建议的重要见解，使他们能够与成年患者进行有意义的讨论，并倡导增加疫苗接种以对抗这种经常被忽视的感染。
