Whooping cough – vaccination is so important

According to the Infection Protection Act, pertussis is a notifiable disease that can occur all year round, but in Germany it occurs more frequently in autumn and winter.

Whooping cough: infection and course

Whooping cough can be transmitted by droplet infection, i.e.  coughing , sneezing and speaking. The incubation period, i.e. the time from infection to the onset of the disease, can be between six and 20 days. However, it is usually nine to ten days.

The causative agent of whooping cough is the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which multiplies in the respiratory tract. The disease can be divided into three different stages:

• Catarhalle stage:  This phase occurs in the first two weeks of the disease and usually includes non-specific symptoms such as a slight  fever , runny nose,  sore throat  and dry cough.
• Stage convulsivum:  In this phase, frequent fits of coughing up to shortness of breath and vomiting occur. In children, a whooping noise (gasping) usually follows when inhaling.
• Stage decrementi: The  frequency and severity of the coughing fits slowly decrease.

Untreated whooping cough can last up to 18 weeks, which is why pertussis is often referred to as the “100-day cough”. Treatment with  antibiotics  only shortens the course of the disease if therapy is given early; later administration only shortens the duration of infectivity.

Sick infants have to be treated in hospital, people over 60 years of age are also particularly at risk, since an illness can often  result in pneumonia  with  pneumococci  .

Vaccination: The vaccine is particularly important for these groups of people

Overall, only around 42 percent of adults over the age of 18 have been vaccinated. Since pertussis can be particularly dangerous for older people, vaccination is also recommended in advancing age. The STIKO recommends the following vaccinations for whooping cough:

• Babies:  Basic immunization consisting of three vaccinations, which is carried out from the age of two months. The vaccination is then usually refreshed in the fourth and eleventh month of life.
• Children and young people:  A further refresher course is given between the ages of five and six and another between the ages of nine and 17.
• Pregnant women:  Pregnant women should be vaccinated at the beginning of the third trimester. If there is an increased likelihood of premature birth, vaccination should be given in the second trimester.

Contact persons of infants or staff in the health service and in community facilities should also have their vaccinations renewed every 10 years.
Especially in the cold season and with a view to decreasing hygiene measures after the pandemic, whooping cough could play an increasingly important role. It is therefore advisable to check the vaccination status and to refresh the vaccination if necessary.