Pertussis in adolescents and its prevention using Tdap vaccination.
In industrialized nations, routine use of pertussis vaccines has shifted the burden of pertussis disease from middle childhood to one primarily affecting young infants, adolescents, and adults. Although generally not as severe as observed in infants, pertussis in adolescents and adults can be serious, and these older age groups are often the reservoir of infection for infants. With recognition of the increasing incidence of pertussis in older individuals, reduced-dose acellular pertussis vaccines combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (Tdap) were developed for use in adolescents and adults. The goals of Tdap booster are to protect older vaccinees, reduce circulating disease, and thereby protect young infants.
Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1124 W. Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90502, USA. cmink@labiomed.org
ChrisAnna Marie
CM
Mink
Sylvia Hsin-Hue
SH
Yeh
D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines