Whooping cough cases drop in Hungary, but expert warns of imminent rise

A temporary drop

During the first week of September, the weekly number of suspected pertussis patients reached 81, below the previous week's figure (86) or this year's peak (89). The National Centre for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK).confirmed the clinical diagnoses with microbiological tests in 27 cases and diagnostic tests still ongoing in the remaining patients.

The outlook is not rosy, with physical contacts multiplying with the start of the new school year. Last week we were expecting a further increase in the number of new suspected cases of whooping cough, and a spread of upper respiratory illnesses from physical encounters in various communities. The 36th week is a positive surprise in this respect, but we fear it's just a temporary respite.

The number of suspected pertussis cases reported for the 36th week brings the cumulative number to 694 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 is spreading this fast now:

Vaccine situation

"It is now difficult for manufacturers to cope with this increased demand, as the demand for vaccines is growing not only in Hungary but also in other European countries and it is not possible to produce in larger volumes in a shorter time, said Ágnes Galgóczi, the head of epidemiology at the NNGYK, five days ago.

Two batches of 10,000 doses each of a vaccine containing the pertussis component have recently been delivered to Hungary, but all have been sold out in pharmacies already, she added.

She reassured, however, that another shipment would arrive at the end of the week, with 20,000 doses of the vaccine becoming available in pharmacies from the beginning of this week.

Galgóczi 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.

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.)

Number of cases will rise

A contributing factor to the increase in the number of whooping cough cases is that GPs are more likely to consider a diagnosis of pertussis in patients presenting with cough symptoms and therefore send more samples for testing.

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,

said Galgóczi.

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," she . said. She reassured, however, that the disease is caused by a bacterium that can be treated well with antibiotics.

Most vulnerable group

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 36th week. In the first 36 weeks of this year, 148 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 more than 43% of all cases this year (300 in total), while up to 19 years the share is 54.3% (377 cases).

Cover image (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images