Context

Recent evidence suggests that school-aged children with pertussis act as a reservoir for infection in infants who are too young to have been vaccinated and who experience most morbidity.1 ,2 It has been speculated that the newer acellular vaccines may not protect children for as long as the previous whole-cell vaccine. Owing to the recent epidemic (2011–2013) and some infant deaths from pertussis, the UK now offer pregnant women vaccination, whereas in North America an older child booster was introduced. This study was designed to provide further data on the extent of pertussis in school-aged children, which would inform whether introducing a school age booster vaccination would be worthwhile.

Findings

Of the 302 children entered into this study 279 yielded suitable saliva samples.

Twenty per cent (95% CI 16% to 25%) or 1 in 5 school-aged children with prolonged acute coughing had evidence of recent pertussis infection. In this study the majority of children enrolled had been previously fully vaccinated (215 of 279) with 18% having pertussis. The highest risk of pertussis was in older children and especially those who had received their vaccination more than 7 years previously, where the rate was 40% and the risk was three times higher compared with those receiving recent vaccination.

Commentary

This study highlights pertussis as a cause of prolonged acute coughing. While the rate of pertussis was high (20%) it was lower than their previous study where the rate was 37%,3 and lower than that found by Cornia et al2 who reported a rate of 32%. The study results are generalisable both for primary care and secondary care paediatrics, as the study was large in size and the authors used broad entry criteria; enrolment was not limited to children with the classical whooping cough features (whoop and cough paroxysms followed by vomiting). It is already known that the classical features only add minimally to the diagnosis of pertussis in older children and adolescents.2 In addition, the authors used an objective, validated and very suitable diagnostic test.

The authors admit that the general practitioners recruited participants on an opportunistic basis and therefore some were missed. Indeed, based on previous audits they estimated that they captured just over half of all potential participants. Additionally, it is unknown how many school children have prolonged acute cough, perhaps of a milder degree, and never attend their general practitioner. In addition, it is disappointing that the sample did not include enough children with underlying asthma. It can be clinically difficult to sort out whether an asthmatic child whose cough becomes a problem (with overshadowing wheezing symptoms) has; (1) an asthma deterioration, (2) postinfectious cough (like pertussis) or (3) persistent bacterial bronchitis.4

The authors' intent was to provide further information to help with the decision as to whether a school age booster vaccine should be introduced in the UK. The high prevalence of pertussis in this group should encourage practitioners in primary and secondary care to think about pertussis. I believe that having a simple diagnostic test on saliva has an added value that the authors do not mention: when I see children with problem cough, it is my experience that if I can objectively confirm a pertussis diagnosis and explain the nature of the illness, I relieve a lot of anxiety and reduce the need for further investigations.

Overall this paper provides very valuable information regarding the aetiology of prolonged acute cough in school-aged children.