Коклюш: Актуальные вопросы эпидемиологии, диагностики и профилактики

Despite widespread vaccination, pertussis remains an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality. About 16 million people are ill with this disease and approximately 195 thousand children die worldwide every year. However, only 5—10% of all pertussis cases are diagnosed and notified. In spite of wide immunization coverage, there is really a pertussis epidemic in many countries of the world now; moreover, vaccinated children constitute a high proportion of disease cases. Adolescents and adults are a major reservoir for cyclic outbreaks of pertussis; however, they are rarely diagnosed with the disease. The review gives scientists' opinion on the causes of this phenomenon and proposed measures to reduce morbidity in different age groups. The severe and complicated forms of pertussis and fatal outcomes occur in babies during the first months of life and therefore current vaccination strategies should be aimed at preventing the infection just in this age group of children.