Overview

• Cases have surpassed pre-pandemic totals after a late-2023 resurgence, with officials noting a 3–5-year cyclical pattern following suppressed circulation during the COVID-19 years.
• A special article in Pediatrics reports that infants, particularly those under two months old, face the highest risk of severe disease and are frequently hospitalized.
• Clinicians are urged to recognize that babies may lack the classic whoop and instead present with apnea and marked leukocytosis that can be mistaken for noninfectious conditions.
• The CDC advises routine DTaP doses at 2, 4, 6, and 15–18 months and at 4–6 years, with a Tdap booster at 11–12 years and catch-up through age 18.
• Early antibiotics are recommended for suspected or confirmed cases to improve outcomes if started promptly and to limit onward transmission.