The Gravitas of Undervalued Pertussis: A Potential Threat
In recent years, pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, has remained a concern in Germany and across Europe. This highly contagious respiratory infection, characterized by a series of spasmodic coughing fits, can be particularly distressing, especially for children and infants.
The symptoms of whooping cough often start at night and initially seem harmless. However, as the disease progresses, the cough becomes stronger and more violent, taking on a characteristic "whooping" sound. In children, the face may turn red or even blue, and they may struggle to draw breath through a constricted larynx. Vomiting often follows these intense coughing fits.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute recommends basic immunization against pertussis at two, four, and eleven months of age. However, the disease can still affect infants before they complete their primary vaccination series, making them particularly vulnerable.
Teenagers and adults with pertussis are often unaware that their persistent, dry cough could be contagious. This is because the recovery phase of the disease does not begin until three to six weeks later. During this time, even a minor stimulus can trigger a new coughing attack in some children, and many develop a kind of "whooping cough tic."
Vaccination remains critical for pertussis control in Europe. Booster doses are recommended for adolescents and adults, especially pregnant women and those in contact with infants under six months, to protect vulnerable infants. This suggests ongoing public health focus on pertussis vaccination in adults to reduce infant impact.
Despite vaccination programs, pertussis incidence globally and in nearby regions remains a concern. For example, Japan reported nearly 40,000 cases in 2025, showing pertussis still circulates significantly even with vaccines available. A resurgence of pertussis has also been reported in the Slovak Republic and nearby areas, indicating pertussis outbreaks can still occur in Europe despite vaccination efforts.
While there is no precise longitudinal German dataset in the search results, the general trend over the past decade in Germany and Europe is that pertussis incidence has decreased markedly since the introduction of vaccination but remains present, with periodic resurgences. The impact on infants continues to be significant due to their vulnerability before completing primary vaccination. Adults experience waning immunity, making booster vaccination important to reduce transmission to infants.
In light of this, the Foundation for Child Health emphasizes the importance of vaccinations in preventing whooping cough. A booster vaccination is recommended every ten years for close contacts of babies, such as parents, grandparents, and medical staff. Pregnant women should be vaccinated regardless of their vaccination status in the third trimester of pregnancy to protect their child early.
While this article does not contain direct detailed data specific to the incidence and impact of pertussis on adults and infants in Germany over the past decade, it is clear that pertussis remains a noteworthy respiratory infection requiring vigilant vaccination strategies in Germany. For more exact data, it may be necessary to consult official German public health sources such as the Robert Koch-Institut directly.
- Science and medical-conditions intersect in the ongoing research for better vaccines against chronic diseases like pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory condition that continues to be a concern in Europe.
- Health-and-wellness initiatives emphasize the importance of up-to-date vaccinations, particularly booster doses for adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and close contacts of infants, to combat the recurring resurgences of respiratory infections such as whooping cough.
- Chronic respiratory conditions, like pertussis, also known as whooping cough, pose significant risks to infants, whose medical vulnerabilities require continuous public health efforts to reduce their impact through vaccination and awareness campaigns.
