Pertussis: guidance, data and analysis
The symptoms, diagnosis, management, surveillance and epidemiology of pertussis (whooping cough).
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory disease that is vaccine preventable. It is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. Pertussis can cause serious and life-threatening complications. This includes pneumonia, difficulty in breathing (apnoea) and seizures. Severe complications and deaths occur mostly in infants under 6 months of age.
Pertussis is a notifiable disease in England and Wales. This means health professionals must inform local health protection teams of suspected cases. UK Health Security Agency collects data on notifiable diseases. This data helps healthcare professionals track outbreaks and trends in disease occurrence over time.
Immunisation is the most effective way to protect against pertussis.
Diagnosis and management
- Pertussis: background information on prevention and management
- Pertussis: guidelines for public health management in a healthcare setting
- Pertussis: guidelines for public health management
- Pertussis (whooping cough): information for healthcare professionals
- Whooping cough (pertussis): immunisation of healthcare workers
Immunisation for pregnant women
Vaccination of healthcare workers
Data collection
Epidemiology
- Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2021
- Pertussis: annual data tables and graphs for 2021
- Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2020
- Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2019
- Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2018
- Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2017
- Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2016
- Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2015
- Pertussis: laboratory-confirmed cases reported in England 2014
- Pertussis enhanced surveillance: laboratory confirmed cases in England in 2013
- Notifiable diseases: historic annual totals
Last updated 3 August 2021 + show all updates
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Added Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2021.
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Added laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2020.
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Added 'Pertussis: occupational vaccination of healthcare workers' guidance.
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Added 'Pertussis: laboratory confirmed cases reported in England 2018' to the epidemiology section.
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First published.