Number of suspected pertussis cases falls again in Hungary

So far so good...

During the third week of September, the weekly number of suspected pertussis patients reached 70, below the previous week's figure (77) or this year's peak (89). The National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK).confirmed the clinical diagnoses with microbiological tests in 15 cases and diagnostic tests still ongoing in the remaining patients.

The 38th week is the third week in a row that caused a positive surprise, as experts projected a rise in the number of suspected pertussis cases due to the start of the school year and the consequent increase in social contacts. With the weather turning colder, however, upper respiratory infections are also set to multiply, which could bring about a rise in the number of whooping cough cases too.

The number of suspected pertussis cases reported for the 38th week brings the cumulative number to 841 this year, an outstanding figure compared to previous years when only a few cases were found in Hungary. This is strange, because the high rate of vaccination has meant that GPs have generally encountered these diseases mostly in textbooks, and very seldom in practice.

We have repeatedly discussed in our previous articles why pertussis was spreading fast before:

There have been no updates on the vaccine situation for weeks now. The NNGYK last issued a statement on vaccine deliveries on 13 August.

Ágnes Galgóczi, the head of epidemiology at the NNGYK, stressed that the protection of newborns remains the most crucial, and therefore vaccination is recommended primarily for pregnant women, because maternal antibodies in the third trimester, passing into the newborn, protect the newborn from the development of serious illness in the first months. In addition, vaccination is also recommended for those in the family who are directly involved in the day-to-day care of the newborn.

The season for respiratory infections is the autumn-winter period, so we are sure to see an increase in the number of cases in the coming period,

Galgóczi warned earlier.

According to the expert, the spread may be due to the increased circulation of airborne pathogens in the post-pandemic period, as was already seen last season with the influenza virus or the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). (The NNGYK issues weekly reports on influenza infections between the 40th and 20th weeks, but the first report may not be published until the 44th week. Portfolio will follow the flu / COVID-19 / RSV developments closely, just like in the previous years.)

Symptoms

"Anyone who experiences a cough that lasts for weeks, possibly with a low or high fever that also lasts for weeks, can be considered for a diagnosis of whooping cough. In newborns, infants, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children, this coughing symptom can lead to a much more severe, oxygen-deprived condition, which can be seen in the baby's mouth turning blue," Gaglóczi said earlier. She reassured, however, that the disease is caused by a bacterium that can be treated well with antibiotics.

Most vulnerable group(s)

Portfolio has previously reported in several articles that the most vulnerable group is infants. They were also the group with the highest incidence on the 38th week. In the first 38 weeks of this year, 180 of all suspected cases, practically one in five, were infants. If we look at a wider age group of children between 0 and 14 years of age, they make up 44% of all cases this year (370 in total), while up to 19 years the share is 54.0% (454 cases).

Cover photo (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images