Overview

• Experts led by Caitlin Li report in Pediatrics that pertussis incidence now exceeds pre‑pandemic numbers and poses a severe threat to very young infants.
• Most U.S. babies under two months diagnosed with pertussis require hospitalization, underscoring the need for prevention before routine infant doses begin.
• Infant presentations often lack the classic “whoop,” with apnea common and sometimes extreme leukocytosis that can be mistaken for noninfectious causes.
• The CDC advises Tdap during 27–36 weeks of gestation and a childhood schedule at 2, 4, 6, 15–18 months, 4–6 years, with a booster at 11–12 years and catch‑up by 18.
• Clinicians are urged to start antibiotics promptly for suspected or confirmed cases, which can improve outcomes early and reduce transmission later in illness.