It was a real tragedy that struck the city of Nice. A baby aged just three weeks died last week from whooping cough. This highly contagious infectious respiratory disease took away the fragile little being, leaving his parents and family in a state of indescribable desolation. Four very young children had been hospitalized and two others are still in intensive care.
This death highlights the worrying resurgence of whooping cough in France and Europe in recent weeks. Despite the existence of effective vaccines, the disease continues to affect the most vulnerable, particularly infants whose immune systems are still developing. The health agency explains that there is in fact “ a clear increase in the number of clustered cases“.
In the first quarter, around fifteen clusters, mainly in communities (nursery schools, primary schools, daycare centers and nursery homes) but also in families, and totaling 70 cases were reported.
On April 18, 2024, Santé Publique France then called for vigilance, recalling how very important vaccination was.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough, also called convulsive cough, is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by violent and jerky coughing fits, which can lead to breathing difficulties or even apnea, particularly in infants.
While whooping cough can be serious for everyone, it is particularly dangerous for young children, whose airways are smaller and more fragile. In France, there are on average around thirty deaths per year linked to whooping cough, mainly among infants under three months old. Christophe Batard, pediatrician and member of the French Association of Outpatient Pediatrics adds:
Whooping cough in older children and adults causes difficulty breathing and coughing, while in infants it can cause respiratory pauses and even cardio-respiratory arrest.
Vaccination: an essential safeguard against whooping cough
Fortunately, whooping cough is a widely immunizable disease. The whooping cough vaccine, administered according to the vaccination schedule recommended by health authorities, effectively protects children against the disease and its complications.
In France, the whooping cough vaccine is included in the combined DTP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis), administered to infants from the age of two months. Boosters are then given at 16-18 months, 6-7 years and 11-13 years.
Professor Daniel Floret, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Lyon, explains why it is essential to vaccinate pregnant women.
The last recommendation is to vaccinate pregnant women. These mothers will transmit antibodies against whooping cough to their newborns who will be protected by maternal antibodies.
