The Untold Story of Pertussis in Adults

Pertussis isn’t just a childhood disease. Adults with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD are particularly vulnerable, yet pertussis often goes undiagnosed. My own experience as a pediatric resident exemplifies this: I endured months of a relentless cough that wasn’t identified as pertussis.

When I began working on pertussis at Sanofi, I quickly realized that most prevention efforts focus on children, especially young infants who are most vulnerable to severe complications. Yet, as a pediatric resident years ago, I experienced firsthand the devastating impact of pertussis in adults—though I didn’t know it at the time.

I vividly recall the ordeal: a relentless, hacking cough that lasted over three months, making sleep impossible and causing me to vomit after coughing fits. The doctors I consulted never considered pertussis as a diagnosis. Instead, I endured a battery of tests, including chest X-rays and arterial blood gases (a procedure I wouldn’t wish on anyone), without any answers. At one point, I was convinced I had contracted PPD negative tuberculosis.

It wasn’t until much later, as I learned more about pertussis in my work, that I realized I had been battling whooping cough all along. This revelation fueled my mission to ensure that pertussis is recognized as a significant health threat—not just for infants, but for people of all ages. Like many adults then and now, I had no idea that pertussis could affect me, and neither did the doctors treating me.

The Motivation Behind the Study

This gap in awareness is why our recently published study on pertussis vaccination in adults felt so personal. We surveyed over 800 physicians across the U.S., France, and Germany to understand their attitudes and practices around adult pertussis vaccination. What we found was disheartening: while physicians acknowledged the risks for certain high-risk groups, they ranked pertussis vaccination for adults as less important than tetanus.

When was the last time anyone saw a case of tetanus?

Overcoming Barriers to Vaccination

Physicians in our study highlighted a range of barriers to vaccination, including patients’ low perception of risk. Many adults simply don’t see themselves as vulnerable to pertussis, even though they’ve likely been vaccinated against tetanus—a disease far less common than pertussis.

Logistical hurdles also create challenges. In some countries, like France, patients must navigate a multi-step process to receive a vaccine, creating delays and missed opportunities. Even in places where access is easier, vaccine fatigue and competing health priorities can still impact uptake.

For healthcare providers, lack of educational tools and reminders can make it harder to integrate pertussis vaccination into routine care. Addressing these barriers is essential to improving vaccination rates and protecting adults from pertussis.

The Path Forward

This study underscores the need for greater awareness and education about pertussis in adults. We must empower physicians to recognize pertussis as a potential diagnosis in adult patients with persistent cough and to prioritize vaccination—not only to protect individuals but also to reduce community transmission.

For me, this isn’t just about data; it’s about ensuring that no one has to endure what I went through. Violently coughing for 100 days is more than a nuisance—it’s a public health issue that deserves our attention.