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Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

Expert consensus for pertussis in children: new concepts in diagnosis and treatment.

  • 2024-11-14
  • World journal of pediatrics : WJP 20(12)
    • Yu-Mei Mi
    • Ji-Kui Deng
    • Ting Zhang
    • Qing Cao
    • Chuan-Qing Wang
    • Sheng Ye
    • Ying-Hu Chen
    • Han-Qing He
    • Bei-Bei Wu
    • Yan Liu
    • Mei Zeng
    • Wei Li
    • Fang Wu
    • Hong-Mei Xu
    • Shi-Yong Zhao
    • Gang Liu
    • Wang Hua
    • Dan Xu
    • Guan-Nan Bai
    • Ying Yang
    • Li-Su Huang
    • Yi-Ping Chen
    • Kai-Hu Yao
    • Zhu-Jun Shao
    • Chun-Zhen Hua

Study Design

Type
Review
Population
children
Methods
expert panel developed this expert consensus; reviewed literature and studies in databases including PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, the China Biomedical Database, and the Chinese Journal Full-text Database up to May 2024

Background

Pertussis resurgence has been reported worldwide in the past two decades. Pertussis is still endemic and difficult to control though with universal vaccination in children. The resurgence may be related to multiple variables, such as increased disease awareness and laboratory tests, waning of immunity following vaccination, and/or genetic mutations of Bordetella pertussis. For better pertussis prevention, diagnosis, and management, we called up an expert panel to develop this expert consensus to provide new concepts in diagnosis and treatment for clinical practice.

Data sources

The expert groups collected clinical evidence, summarized their clinical experiences, evaluated preliminary recommendations or guidelines, and then organized open-ended discussions to form the recommendations. This consensus was developed by reviewing the literature and studies in databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, the China Biomedical Database, and the Chinese Journal Full-text Database up to May 2024. The search terms included "pertussis" or "whooping cough", "children", "diagnosis", and "treatment".

Results

The burden of pertussis has also changed from infants to  school children and adults, and these age groups have consequently become the main source of infection for vulnerable population including infants and newborns. In China, a high prevalence of erythromycin-resistant Bordetella pertussis (ERBP) has been reported in the past decade. ERBP may lead to failed clinical empirical treatment with macrolides, which poses a great challenge for pertussis management and control. For better management of pertussis, a flow diagram for diagnosis and treatment of pertussis was presented in this consensus. This consensus also described the diagnostic criteria for pertussis, high-risk cases, and severe pertussis. Macrolides can still be used to treat confirmed erythromycin-sensitive B. pertussis (ESBP) infections, whereas oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole therapy is the initial treatment option for children older than two months. For infants younger than two months, severe patients, or those exhibiting a high degree of sulfonamide allergy, intravenous administration of piperacillin or cefoperazone-sulbactam is advised.

Conclusions

This expert consensus provides a comprehensive guidance and a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of pertussis in children.

Research Insights

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