Pertussis: guidelines for public health management has been updated by Public Health England (PHE).

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious condition where up to 90% of household contacts develop the disease. 

This guidance covers the investigation and management of suspected cases of pertussis and their close contacts.

The 2018 guideline updates include:

  • information on oral fluid testing for children who are aged from 2 up to 17 years
  • phrasing changes to clarify timeframes for pertussis testing
  • the addition of the hexavalent vaccine to the primary schedule for infants born from 1 August 2017
  • a summary of sampling and testing for pertussis in primary care.

 

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